Green Synthesis and Biomedical Evaluation of Pergularia daemia-Functionalized ZnO/P4VP Nanocomposite
Abstract
Green synthesis of polymer-functionalized metal oxide nanocomposites has emerged as a sustainable approach for developing materials with improved stability and biological activity. Zinc oxide nanoparticles combined with medicinal plant phytochemicals and polymer matrices offer potential antimicrobial properties while improving nanoparticle dispersion and biocompatibility. Although Pergularia daemia possesses diverse bioactive phytochemicals and ZnO nanoparticles exhibit antimicrobial activity, limited studies have explored Pergularia daemia-functionalized ZnO/poly(4-vinylpyridine-co-styrene) (PD-Zn@P4VP NC) and their physicochemical characteristics and in vitro biological properties. PD-Zn@P4VP NC were synthesized using an aqueous extract of P. daemia and characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy, FTIR, FESEM–EDX, XRD, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential analysis. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae using the agar well diffusion method, while cytocompatibility was assessed in HFF-2 fibroblast cells using the MTT assay. The synthesized nanocomposite exhibited a characteristic UV–Visible absorption peak at 372 nm, confirming ZnO formation. DLS analysis showed an average hydrodynamic particle size of 280.8 nm, with a zeta potential of 32.15mV, indicating good colloidal stability. The nanocomposite showed concentration-dependent antibacterial activity, producing inhibition zones of 19 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 20 mm against Klebsiella pneumoniae at 100 μg/mL. Cytocompatibility studies demonstrated approximately 69% cell viability in HFF-2 cells at 100 μg/mL. The PD-Zn@P4VP NC exhibited favorable physicochemical properties, antibacterial activity, and acceptable in vitro cytocompatibility. These findings provide a basis for further mechanistic investigations, evaluation against additional microbial strains, and in vivo studies to determine its safety and therapeutic potential.