Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and their Inhibitory Effect on Human Lens Epithelial Cells under UVB Irradiation

Abstract

Posterior capsular opacification is the most frequent complication after cataract surgery, which is induced by the proliferation, differentiation and migration of lens epithelial cells. Inhibiting the proliferation of human lens epithelial cells could reduce the occurrence of posterior capsular opacification. To explore the possible potential of ZnO nanoparticles in treating posterior capsular opacification, we investigated the effect of ZnO nanoparticles on the human lens epithelial cell proliferation in the presence and absence of ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay. The results indicate that ZnO nanoparticles could apparently inhibit the proliferation of human lens epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner, and UVB irradiation can further enhance this inhibitory role for the human lens epithelial cell proliferation, indicating the great potential of ZnO nanoparticles in treating posterior capsular opacification in clinical application.