Synthesis and multipurpose efficacy of novel PrxSmyZn1-x-yO nanoparticles: Antibacterial, cytotoxic and photocatalytic activities.

Novel PrxSmyZn1-x-yO nanoparticles are prepared by the chemical precipitation method. The doping concentrations of praseodymium and samarium are selected to be equal, with values established at 0, 1, 3, and 5%. The crystallite size, strain and lattice constants are examined from the XRD data. The prepared nanoparticles show a higher band gap of 3.654 eV when the doping concentration is set at 5%. The electron and hole concentration is in the order of 1025-1026/m3. The refractive index of the prepared materials is examined as a function of the doping concentration. The quenching is observed in the photoluminescence spectrum when the doping is done. The nanoparticles exhibit remarkable antibacterial efficacy against the bacterial strains considered in this work. Furthermore, the anticancer properties of both undoped and doped nanoparticles are meticulously examined against the human breast cancer cell line. The ZnO nanoparticles exhibited 90% inhibition of breast cancer cell proliferation, whereas 5% Pr, Sm dual-doped ZnO nanoparticles showed 94% inhibition at 30 μg/mL. The IC50 value has been significantly (P<0.05) reduced from 10.72 ± 0.05 to 9.1 ± 0.05 μg/mL upon doping proves the potential of Pr, Sm dual-doped ZnO nanoparticles as an anticancer agent. The degradation of methylene blue under visible light is explored. The degradation efficiency, reusability, and kinetic rate constants are analyzed.