Green microwave synthesis of ZnO/polymer nanohybrids: structural, bioactivity, and theoretical BSA docking studies

Herein, the microwave method of synthesising ZnO/pectin and ZnO/polyethelene glycol nanohybrid composites using Clitoria ternate flower extract has been synthesised and evaluated by spectral and biological methods. The spectral characterization of ZnO nanoparticles and their composites was performed using FTIR, XRD, TGA, UV, SEM-EDX, and TEM, whereas biological evaluation was performed using antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant studies. The potential cytotoxicity against the HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line showed an inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 22.7 ± 0.05 µg/mL. ZnO nanoparticles and polymer nanocomposites synthesized via green microwave processing with C. ternatea extract exhibited strong antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones of 11–22 mm for E. coli and 6–19 mm for S. aureus (ZnO/pectin showed superior efficacy). Similar trends were observed in antibiofilm, antioxidant, antifungal, and anticancer assays, with ZnO/pectin achieving an IC50 of 22.7 ± 0.05 µg/mL against HT-29 cells.