Photoactivated water-disinfecting, and biological properties of Ag NPs@Sm-doped ZnO nanorods/cuttlefish bone composite: In-vitro bactericidal, cercaricidal and schistosomicidal studies.

Herein, eco-friendly composite was synthesized by embedding silver (Ag) nanospheres onto aragonitic cuttlefish bone (CB)-stabilized samarium doped zinc oxide (Sm-doped ZnO) nanorods. The operating interaction profile and the photoactive behavior of this nanocomposite were assessed via XRD, FTIR, Raman, TEM, FE-SEM, DLS, DRS and PL techniques. Locality of Sm-doped ZnO and its attaching modes to the cuttlefish bone lamella were highly dominated by embedding Ag NPs that encouraged Zn Lewis acid sites to electrostatically interact with aragonite carbonates in the channeled porous CB system. Such interacting approach enhanced photoactivity of Sm-doped ZnO by lowering its energy band gap (from 3.26 eV for Sm-doped ZnO/CB to 2.12 eV for Ag@Sm-doped ZnO/CB). Besides, plasmon-induced silver electrons provided Sm-doped ZnO by extra photosensitivity. Ag@Sm-doped ZnO/CB nanocomposite exhibited pronounced photo-activated disinfection efficiencies for Staphylococcus aureus (80%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (60%), and Schistosoma mansoni cercariae (100%) linked with progressive demolition in cercarial body. Such nanocomposite also possessed exterminating action against Schistosoma mansoni adult worms serving near 100% worm-mortality accompanied by significant disintegration of worm body. These findings were successfully drawn Ag@Sm-doped ZnO/CB as an efficient weapon in the biocides arsenal being even capable of destructing pathogenic bacteria and parasites in dark- and photo- conditions.