Green carbon-based nanocomposite biomaterials through the lens of microscopes

In this work, a green synthesis method was designed and practiced to develop bioactive and biocompatible carbon-based nanocomposites biomaterials. ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized in assistance of leaf extracts and added to a composite nanostructure composed of the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). The resulting green nanocomposite revealed ability to make π-π interactions, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals interactions with the doxorubicin (DOX). Then, the surface morphology of the synthesized nanocomposite was investigated, and the interrelationship between the surface morphology, relative cell viability, and drug uptake and release behavior were discussed. This phenomenon was conceptualized to optimize the interactions between the biomolecules and the substrate by reaching significant drug payload and cellular internalizations. The results suggest that the drug-nanocomposite interactions (hydrogen bonding, van der Waals, n → σ* interactions) are of prime importance which determine the ability of the developed nanocomposite to drug uptake. The porosity, encapsulation, and trapping the drug via only physical and spatial entrapment techniques are also important.