This research paper describes the fabrication of bionanocomposites (BNCs) based on silk fibroin (SF) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The recorded UV–visible (UV–vis) spectra of the sample confirm the reduction of GO to rGO in SF by showing a plasmon resonance band within the wavelength range of 261–268 nm. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) peak at 11.6° corresponding to the GO intensity decreases with increasing reaction time, resulting in rGO in the SF host matrix. The morphological behavior of the SF–rGO BNCs is scrutinized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the images clearly indicate the existence of rGO within the matrix. The increasing amount of GO in the SF shows broken graphene sheets, which can increase the surface roughness and establish a strong physical contact between the SF and rGO nanosheets. The high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) image of the bionanocomposite showed that the formed rGO encompassments of fewer layers are stacked, each with fewer wrinkles and folding. The Raman spectroscopy confirmed the formation of rGO by showing the increased intensity ratio of D to G band (I D/I G) in the bionanocomposite samples. The rGO effect on the electrical conductivity is measured, and the results show that DC conductivity increases from 1.28 × 10–9 to 82.4 × 10–9 S/cm with an increase in the GO content in the SF biopolymer. The investigations demonstrate loss of the insulation property and improved conducting behavior of the SF biopolymer.

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In the present work, the stable silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were produced in situ in the presence of white light, using aqueous silk fibroin (SF) acquired from Bombyx mori silk. The UV-Visible spectral study explained the production of AgNPs by displaying a distinctive surface plasmon resonance band (SPR) at the wavelength 424 nm. The crystalline nature of the produced AgNPs have been identified using XRD study. Nanocrystalline phase of silver (Ag) with face centered cubic (FCC) structure was observed by XRD. The shape evolution and size of the formed nanoparticles was studied using transmission electron microscope. The captured images shown the formed particle were spherical in shape in morphology, and diameter in the range 35 to 40 nm. In the application part, an attempt was made to evaluate the potential antibacterial activity of the biogenic silver nanoparticles against pathogenic bacteria’s such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

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