Fabrication of ZnS-cellulose nanocomposite for drug delivery, antibacterial and photocatalytic activity

A simple in situ method was employed for the synthesis of ZnS-cellulose nanocomposites (ZS/CNC). The morphology, structure and composition of the product were determined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis). TEM results confirmed the particles of average diameter of 10 nm. ZS/CNC was explored for controlled drug delivery of ofloxacin. The maximum drug loading of 78% was observed at 2.2 pH. ZS/CNC was evaluated for antibacterial activity against E. coli bacteria. Photocatalytic activities of the nanocomposites were tested for the degradation of phenol under visible light irradiation. Higher degradation of 75.62% was recorded for nanocomposite as compared to ZnS nanoparticles (58.55%). The photocatalytic studies indicated very good degradation of phenol with rate constant K of 0.01 min(-1) and R-2 of 0.991. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.