Chitosanylated MoO₃–Ruthenium(II) Nanocomposite as Biocompatible Probe for Bioimaging and Herbaceutical Detection

Hybrid nanomaterials with inherent physicochemical properties and cytocompatibility are beneficial for healthcare utilities. This paper demonstrates the hybridization of transition-metal oxide (molybdenum trioxide, MoO3), optoelectrochemically active dye complex (Ru(II)), and biopolymer (chitosan, CS) into a single nanosystem. The asafetida-resin-mediated green synthesis of MoO3 nanoparticles (g-MoO3 NPs) enabled chemical adsorption of Ru(II) and CS. Optical imaging functionality of pristine g-MoO3, g-MoO3–Ru(II), and g-MoO3–Ru(II)/CS has been evaluated using Caenorhabditis elegans, as an in vivo animal model, at an excitation wavelength of 450 nm and observed emission of ∼600 nm. The localization of chitosan on the surface of g-MoO3–Ru(II) exhibits cytocompatibility promising for intracellular imaging. The intracellular antioxidant properties of the g-MoO3–Ru(II)/CS nanocomposite are more profound than pristine NPs as assessed by measuring reactive oxygen species and protein carbonyls against the standard drug resveratrol. The electrochemical transducing ability of the hybrid g-MoO3–Ru(II) nanocomposite has been tested using butein, as a model herbaceutical, with nanomolar precision (50–1250 nM). The triad composite of metal oxide, dye, and biopolymer enabled synergistic properties that are suitable for multifunctional application in intracellular imaging, antioxidant, and electrochemical sensor studies.