Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles induced Apoptosis in Human Cervical (HeLa) and Breast (MCF-7) Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

Chemotherapeutic resistance is currently one of the most prevalent problems due to the low absorption and undesirable toxicity of existing medications. Furthermore, non-specific targeting of existing medications is leading to the investigation of novel drug manufacturing strategies to eradicate chronic disorders. Present studies were performed to explore the anti-proliferative potential of synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in human breast (MCF-7), human lung (A549) and human cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines. The ZnO NPs were synthesized by using soybean seed extract. The ZnO NPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The phytochemicals present in the soybean seed extract was evaluated using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) technique. Cytotoxicity effects of ZnO NPs, levofloxacin (LVX) and a combination of ZnO NPs-LVX against MCF-7, A549 and HeLa cancer cell lines was evaluated by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2Htetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Annexin assays were performed to explore the apoptosis-inducing potential of ZnO NPs and its drug combination. This showed that tested compounds have potent cytotoxic effects dose-dependently against cancer cell lines. The potent anticancer potential of ZnO NPs-LVX is expressed to utilize in the near future as novel therapeutic strategies.