Insight into the Potential Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activities of Scrolled Kaolinite Single Sheet (KNs) and Its Composite with ZnO Nanoparticles: Synergetic Studies

The kaolinite sheets were scrolled by sonication-induced chemical delamination processes into well-developed nanotubes (KNs) which were used as substrates for microwave-based ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO/KNs). The biological activities of synthetic ZnO/KNs structures, in terms of the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties, were assessed in comparative studies with the separated phases of the synthetic ZnO and KNs as well as the commercially used ZnO. The KNs substrate resulted in a notable enhancement in the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of ZnO, which was assigned positive influence on the surface area, interactive interfaces, charge separation, and agglomeration properties of ZnO in addition to the detectable bioactive properties of the KNs structure. The ZnO/KNs structure achieved remarkable scavenging efficiencies for 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) (89.8 +/- 1.57%), nitric oxide (90.6 +/- 1.63%), 2,2 '-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) (86.8 +/- 1.28%), and superoxide (43.9 +/- 1.72%) radicals. Additionally, it shows high inhibition effects on porcine alpha-amylase (84.3 +/- 1.92%), crude alpha-amylase (70.6 +/- 1.37%), pancreatic alpha-Glucosidase (94.7 +/- 1.54%), crude alpha-Glucosidase (95.4 +/- 1.64%), and amyloglucosidase (95.3 +/- 1.32%) enzymes. This antidiabetic activity is significantly higher than the activity of miglitol and close to or slightly higher than acarbose, which leads us to recommend the use of ZnO/KNs when considering the cost and side effects of the commercially used drugs.

Automated summary

The kaolinite sheets were delaminated into nanotubes (KNs) through sonication-induced chemical processes. These KNs were used as substrates for ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO/KNs) synthesized through microwave-based techniques. Compared to separate ZnO and KNs phases, as well as commercially used ZnO, the ZnO/KNs structure exhibited enhanced antioxidant and antidiabetic properties due to the positive influence of KNs on surface area, interfaces, charge separation, and agglomeration properties. It demonstrated remarkable scavenging efficiencies for various radicals and strong inhibition effects on enzymes related to diabetes. The antidiabetic activity of ZnO/KNs was comparable to or slightly higher than acarbose, making it a recommended alternative to commercially used drugs.