MoS2 and MoSe2 2D nanosheets-based supramolecular nanostructure scaffold-capped Ag-NPs: exploring their morphological, anti-bacterial, and anticancer properties

Different nanostructural composites-capped silver nanoparticles (i.e., Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoX2, where X = S, Se) were explored. Nanocomposites comprising a two-dimensional (2D) metal dichalcogenides (i.e., MoS2, MoSe2, and MoS2-MoSe2) nanosheets-dispersed supramolecular hydrogel (SHGel) structure were used as stabilizing agents of silver nanoparticles synthesized through direct exposure to sunlight without use of external reducing chemicals under atmospheric conditions. The morphological uniqueness of individual nanocomposite-capped Ag-NPs was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electron-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy associated with TEM revealed elemental-level confirmation of formation of Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoX2 with distinct nano-stabilizing agents composed of 2D nanosheets of MoS2-, MoSe2-, and combined MoS2-MoSe2-dispersed gel-nanocomposites. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of these composite-capped Ag-NPs was undertaken. The bioactivity of three diverse Ag-NPs (i.e., Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoS2, Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoSe2, and Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoS2-MoSe2) was surveyed. The antibacterial properties of three Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoX2 were experimentally tested employing Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and Gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae. The anticancer activity of Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoS2, Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoSe2, and Ag-NPs@SHGel-MoS2-MoSe2 against the human adenocarcinomic alveolar cell line (A549) was also revealed.

Automated summary

Different nanostructural composites-capped silver nanoparticles were synthesized using supramolecular hydrogel (SHGel) structures containing two-dimensional metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, MoSe2, and MoS2-MoSe2) as stabilizing agents. The morphological characteristics of the composite-capped Ag-NPs were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and elemental analysis confirmed the composition of the nanocomposites. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was employed to analyze the composite-capped Ag-NPs. The antibacterial activity of the composite-capped Ag-NPs against two bacterial strains and the anticancer activity against a human lung cancer cell line were tested.