Fabrication of pure Bi2WO6 and Bi2WO6/MWCNTs nanocomposite as potential antibacterial and anticancer agents

Abstract An essential research area for scientists is the development of high-performing, inexpensive, non-toxic antibacterial materials that prevent the transfer of bacteria. In this study, pure Bi 2 WO 6 and Bi 2 WO 6 /MWCNTs nanocomposite were prepared by hydrothermal method. A series of characterization results by using XRD FTIR, Raman, FESEM, TEM, and EDS analyses, reveal the formation of orthorhombic nanoflakes Bi 2 WO 6 by the addition of NaOH and pH adjustment to 7. Compared to pure Bi 2 WO 6 , the Bi 2 WO 6 /MWCNTs nanocomposite exhibited that CNTs are efficiently embedded into the structure of Bi 2 WO 6 which results in charge transfer between metal ion electrons and the conduction or valence band of Bi 2 WO 6 and MWCNTs and result in shifting to longer wavelength as shown in UV–visible and PL. The results confirmed that MWCNTs are stuck to the surface of the microflowers, and some of them embedded inside the Bi 2 WO 6 nanoflakes without affecting the structure of Bi 2 WO 6 nanoflakes as demonstrated by TEM. In addition, Pure Bi 2 WO 6 and the Bi 2 WO 6 /MWCNTs nanocomposite were tested against P. mirabilis and S. mutans., confirming the effect of addition MWCNTs materials had better antibacterial activity in opposition to both bacterial strains than pure Bi 2 WO 6 . Besides, pure Bi 2 WO 6 and the Bi 2 WO 6 /MWCNTs nanocomposite tested for cytotoxicity against lung MTT test on Hep-G2 liver cancer cells, and flow-cytometry. Results indicated that pure Bi 2 WO 6 and the Bi 2 WO 6 /MWCNTs nanocomposite have significant anti-cancer efficacy against Hep-G2 cells in vitro. In addition, the findings demonstrated that Bi 2 WO 6 and Bi 2 WO 6 /MWCNTs triggered cell death via increasing ROS. Based on these findings, it appears that pure Bi 2 WO 6 and the Bi 2 WO 6 /MWCNTs nanocomposite have the potential to be developed as nanotherapeutics for the treatment of bacterial infections, and liver cancer.