Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles by green synthesis method

Abstract

The use of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) has increased considerably because of their almost universal applications, such as electronics, optical, pharmaceutical, biomedical and energy fields, which have been expanding rapidly during the past few decades. Due to the widespread applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), the potential exposure of workers, consumers and scientists to these particles has increased. We conducted a ZnONPs synthesis through a low cost, eco-friendly and sustainable method, where Beta vulgaris extract was utilized as a reducing agent. Characterization of ZnONPs was conducted by High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) to obtain the morphological properties. In this study, we evaluate ZnONPs toxicity in vitro in two mouse fibroblast cell lines C2C12 and L929 myoblast cell lines and human lymphocytes from peripheral blood (HLPB), using Trypan blue dye exclusion method. MTT assay method only in cell lines C2C12 and L929 after 24 h of exposure. The results show the ZnONPs size was between 16 and 24 nm, with hexagonal crystal structure and semi-spherical morphology. The toxic effects of ZnONPs were analyzed in the two cell lines after a 24 and 48 h incubation period. The value of TC50 ZnONPs was calculated after a 24 h exposure, which was found to be between 28 and 37 μg/mL and 20–30 μg/mL at a 48 h exposure. The viability value was reported non toxic at concentrations of 1 × 10−6-1x10−3 μg/mL.