Coated Zinc Oxide Research Articles

Meticulous Taxifolin Releasing Performance by the Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: As a Short Road to Drug delivery System for Cancer Therapeutics

Zinc oxide nanoparticles have shown promising therapeutic applications in the field of molecular medicine. Taxifolin is a generous flavanonol, and its antioxidant potential is superior to that of other flavonoid compounds owing to its unique structure. However, its low bioavailability is a prime complication for biomedical applications. In the present study we explored the controlled synthesis of biodegradable polymer coated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) loaded with taxifolin and evaluation for their loading capacity and drug releasing behavioral properties. The prepared nanomaterials were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, Dynamic light scattering analysis, zeta potential analyzer and Scanning electron and Transmission electron microscopy. From the scanning electron microscope and DLS analysis it is observed that the size of synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles ranged between 70 and 80 nm whereas the PEG coated and drug coated particle size were about 80 and 90 nm in diameter respectively. FTIR analysis confirmed that the taxifolin molecules were conjugated with PEG coated zinc oxide nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed that the zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited were highly crystalline structure. Taxifolin loaded nanoparticles showed a controlled drug release profile with response to various pH levels. The inhibitory concentrations of synthesized biomaterials were found at 30 µg/ml, 33 µg/ml and 27 µg/ml unloaded, PEG loaded and Taxifolin Loaded ZnO nanoparticles respectively, where as the synthesized materials were did not show any adverse effect on control normal Human Embryonic Kidney Cell (HEK). Furthermore, we found significant synthetic phase arrest at cell cycle analysis in the treated group and following apoptotic cell death were evidenced by AO/EtBr and DAPI fluorescence microscopy analysis. Our findings obviously validate that taxifolin loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles could efficiently deliver the drug of interest, and initiate the apoptotic process in the human breast cancer cells. From this study we can conclude that the taxifolin loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles may have potential applications in the field of anticancer drug development.

Investigation on the optical transmission in UV range of sol-gel spin coated zinc oxide nanofilms deposited on glass

Physical properties of semiconductor thin films change when reducing their thicknesses from micro- to nanoscales. Indeed, zinc oxide (ZnO) microfilms absorb ultraviolet (UV) light; however, the optical transmission of the ZnO nanofilms shows double transmission edges in the same range of wavelengths. In the present work, we deposited ZnO nanofilms on glass substrates by sol–gel spin coating method. We carried out grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), where results showed that elaborated ZnO nanofilms have wurtzite structure, with dominance along (100), (002) and (101). A bruker profilometer gives a thickness about 119 nm. The photoluminescence at room temperature of films carried out with Horiba iHR 550 shows a strong luminescence in visible range. The ZnO nanofilms showed high optical transmission in the UV and the visible ranges with a drop of about 50% in the wavelengths range of 300-400 nm. The high optical transmission observed in the UV range was explained by photoluminescence.

Synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using insulin-rich leaf extract: Anti-diabetic, antibiofilm and anti-oxidant properties

Here, we report the novel fabrication of ZnO nanoparticles using the Costus igneus leaf extract. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy to determine the bioactive components present in the plant extract. The synthesis of Ci-ZnO NPs (C. igneus- coated zinc oxide nanoparticles) was accomplished using a cost-effective and simple technique. Ci-ZnO NPs were specified using UV–visible spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, and TEM. Ci-ZnO NPs was authenticated by UV–Vis and exhibited a peak at 365 nm. The XRD spectra proved the crystalline character of the Ci-ZnO NPs synthesized as hexagonal wurtzite. The FTIR spectrum illustrated the presence of possible functional groups present in Ci-ZnO NPs. The TEM micrograph showed evidence of the presence of a hexagonal organization with a size of 26.55 nm typical of Ci-ZnO NPs. The α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays demonstrated antidiabetic activity of Ci-ZnO NPs (74 % and 82 %, respectively), and the DPPH [2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate] assay demonstrated the antioxidant activity of the nanoparticles (75%) at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. The Ci-ZnO NPs exhibited promising antibacterial and biofilm inhibition activity against the pathogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Proteus vulgaris, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Additionally, the Ci-ZnO NPs showed biocompatibility with mammalian RBCs with minimum hemolytic activity (0.633 % ± 0.005 %) at a concentration of 200 μg/ml.

In vitro antiprotozoal activity of poly(rhodanine)-coated zinc oxide nanoparticles against Trichomonas gallinae

Recently utilization of nanoparticles in biological application has been increased due to their enhanced performance in drug delivery, anti-microbial and antiparasitic application. Researchers who work on developing new functional materials by antiparasitic properties are suffering from the lack of specific protocols for in-vitro investigation. In addition, investigation of nanoparticles performance by SEM & TEM could help us to assess their mechanism of action. Most of researchers have problem in preparing biological samples for SEM & TEM analysis. In the present study, pure ZnO nanoparticles and poly(rhodanine)-coated ZnO nanoparticles were truly synthesized and characterized. The antiparasitic activities of both nanoparticles were tested against Trichomonas gallinae parasite in vitro. The average sizes of uncoated and poly(rhodanine)-coated ZnO nanoparticles were 66.1 and 161.9 nm, respectively and a significant reduction for viability (p < 0.01) was observed for poly(rhodanine)-coated ZnO nanoparticles against Trichomonas gallinae. Moreover, the inhibitory concentration for 2 hours (IC50-2h) of pure ZnO nanoparticles and poly(rhodanine)-coated ZnO nanoparticles for this parasite was 2.5 and 10 mg/mL, respectively. Accordingly, these NPs could be suggested as a new nanoagent for safe and effective treatment of Trichomonas gallinae parasites. In addition SEM analysis was utilized to investigate the interaction of Trichomonas gallinae cell and poly(rhodanine)-coated ZnO nanoparticles.

Increased Colloidal Stability and Decreased Solubility-Sol-Gel Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with Humic Acids.

Adding the humic acid coating to the nanoparticles of zinc oxide (ZnO-NP) may improve the properties necessary for their colloidal stability. To show how humic acid coating affects the properties of ZnO-NP, three differently sol-gel synthesized ZnO-NP were synthesized: pristine zinc oxide nanoparticles without coating (p-ZnO-NP) and humic acid coated zinc oxide nanoparticles at two different initial concentrations of 20 mg/L (HA20-ZnO-NP) and 200 mg/L (HA200-ZnO-NP) of humic acids in the starting solution. All ZnO-NP were found to be nanocrystals of mineral zincite exhibiting wurtzite crystal symmetry. Transmission electron microscopy showed that capping by humic acids during synthesis decreased the size of HA20-ZnO-NP and HA200-ZnO-NP compared to p-ZnO-NP nanoparticles. Via experiments, HA20-ZnO-NP were found to dissolve less and have a similar or higher stability than both p-ZnO-NP and HA200-ZnO-NP.

PEGylated zinc oxide nanoparticles induce apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells through reactive oxygen species

In this study, the authors have successfully prepared the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs) and studied its effect in pancreatic cancer cells. The authors have observed a nanosized particle with spherical shape. In this study, the authors have demonstrated the cytotoxic effect of ZNP and PZNP in PANC1 cells. To be specific, PZNP was more cytotoxic compared to that of ZNP in PANC1 cancer cells. The authors have further showed that apoptosis is the main mode of cytotoxic activity. It is worth noting that PEGylation of ZNP did not decrease the cell killing activity of zinc particles, whereas it further increases its anticancer effect in the pancreatic cancer cells. The authors have observed a significant upregulation of proapoptotic BAX while expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 was significantly downregulated indicating the potent anticancer effect of zinc nanoparticles. Overall, PEGylation of ZNP could be an effective strategy to improve the stability, while at the same time, its anticancer activity could be enhanced for better therapeutic response.

Preparation of chitosan coated zinc oxide nanocomposite for enhanced antibacterial and photocatalytic activity: As a bionanocomposite.

The surface coating of metal oxide nanoparticles using biopolymer chitosan has evolved to become an important area of polymer nanotechnology. Herein, we report the preparation of chitosan coated zinc oxide (CS-ZnO) nanocomposite for the first time by a green chemistry approach using bioflavonoid rutin. The formation of CS-ZnO nanocomposite was preliminarily confirmed by color change and UV-Visible spectroscopy. FE-SEM images revealed agglomeration of CS-ZnO nanocomposite having predominant rod shaped structure. The surface coating of chitosan polymer on ZnO was confirmed by XRD, EDS, FTIR, DLS and zeta potential analysis. The prepared CS-ZnO nanocomposite showed significant antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. However, the prepared nanocomposite was more effective against Gram-negative bacteria compared to Gram-positive bacteria. The highest zone of inhibition by CS-ZnO nanocomposite was reported against E. coli (25.5 mm) followed by K. pneumoniae (24.5 mm), S. aureus (22.5 mm) and least against B. subtilis (21 mm). Furthermore, the prepared nanocomposite acted as photocatalyst for the degradation of Methylene blue and Congo red under sunlight irradiation.

Long- and short-term antibacterial properties of low-density polyethylene-based films coated with zinc oxide nanoparticles for potential use in food packaging

Concerns in food safety and the need for high-quality foods have increased the demand for extending the shelf life of packaged foods. Subsequently, promoting and investigating the development of antibacterial materials for food packaging has become inevitable. Zinc oxide nanoparticles have attracted attention lately owing to their multifunctional properties, especially antibacterial activity. For this study, antibacterial low-density polyethylene films were prepared by coating zinc oxide nanoparticles onto their surface. The low-density polyethylene film antibacterial activity was evaluated toward Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The scanning electron microscopy images showed that using anhydride-modified low-density polyethylene (LDPE-g-AM) resin permitted improved zinc oxide nanoparticle distribution on the low-density polyethylene film surface, reduced the agglomerate sizes, and reinforced the zinc oxide nanoparticle bonding to the low-density polyethylene film surface. We found that the coated low-density polyethylene films exhibited high antibacterial activity against both strains. The antibacterial tests also proved that the coated films retained their antibacterial efficiency toward Escherichia coli, even after eight months, with a reduction rate higher than 99.9%, whereas for Staphylococcus aureus the antibacterial properties for the linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) films decreased at eight months and improved for the LDPE-g-AM films. When the zinc oxide coated films were laminated with neat low-density polyethylene, only the LDPE-g-AM was still active against E. coli provided that the lamination thickness does not go beyond 8 µm. This research demonstrated that the coated low-density polyethylene films have excellent attributes when used as an active coating in the food packaging industry.

Label-Free Detection of Dissolved Carbon Dioxide Utilizing Multimode Tapered Optical Fiber Coated Zinc Oxide Nanorice

A label-free detection for dissolved carbon dioxide (dCO 2 ) is developed using a tapered optical fiber sensor. The tapered region of the optical fiber is coated with the zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorice and used as a probe for dCO 2 sensing. The sensor probe was exposed to different concentrations of dCO 2 solution ranging from 10 to 100 ppm. ZnO nanorice can adsorb dCO 2 via strong hydrogen bonding due to the presence of plenty of oxygen atoms on its surface layer. The interaction between ZnO nanorice and dCO 2 changes the optical properties of the ZnO nanorice layer, resulting in the change in reflectance. From the experiment, the result shows that there is an improvement in the sensitivity of the sensor when higher concentration was used. A broad linear trend ranging from 0 to 60 ppm ( $R^{2} = 0.972$ ) is observed for the sensor probe that is coated with 1.0 M of ZnO nanorice compared with the 0.1 M and 0.5 M ZnO nanorice concentrations. The sensor sensitivity obtained is 0.008 mW/ppm. The sensor demonstrates a response and recovery time of 0.47 and 1.70 min, respectively. Good repeatability is obtained with the standard deviation in the range of 0.008–0.027. The average resolution calculated for this sensor is 4.595 ppm.

Zein Coated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Fabrication and Antimicrobial Evaluation as Dental Aid

Zein Coated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Fabrication and Antimicrobial Evaluation as Dental Aid

Low dose of coated zinc oxide is as effective as pharmacological zinc oxide in promoting growth performance, reducing fecal scores, and improving nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology in weaned pigs

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of coated zinc oxide on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal scores, minerals concentrations in serum, fecal zinc, intestinal morphology, and selected microbial population in weaned pigs. A total of 192 crossbred [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] weaned pigs (7.42 ± 0.97 kg) were randomly assigned into one of the following dietary treatments: (1) negative control (NC): basal diet; (2) positive control (PC): NC + 2500 mg/kg conventional zinc oxide; (3) CZO300: NC + 300 mg/kg coated zinc oxide; (4) CZO500: NC + 500 mg/kg coated zinc oxide; (5) CZO1000: NC + 1000 mg/kg coated zinc oxide; (6) CZO2000: NC + 2000 mg/kg coated zinc oxide. Each treatment had 8 replicate pens, with 4 pigs per pen. Pigs fed PC, CZO500, CZO1000, and CZO2000 diets had higher (P < 0.01) average daily gain (ADG) than those fed NC diet during days 0–21. During days 0–42, supplementation of coated zinc oxide at levels of 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg increased ADG compared with NC treatment (P < 0.05). Pigs fed PC, CZO300, CZO500, CZO1000, and CZO2000 diets had lower (P < 0.01) fecal scores compared with those fed NC diet during weeks 1, 2, and 3, but no significant difference was observed among coated zinc oxide-supplemented diets. Pigs fed the PC, CZO1000, or CZO2000 diet had greater (P < 0.05) coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility of dry matter than pigs fed NC diet. Compared with pigs fed NC diets, pigs fed the PC diet or coated zinc oxide-supplemented diets had increased (P < 0.01) serum and fecal zinc concentrations. Duodenal villus height and ratio of villus height to crypt depth of pigs fed PC, CZO1000, and CZO2000 diets were higher (P < 0.05) than those of pigs fed NC diet, whereas no significant differences were observed between pigs fed the PC, CZO1000, and CZO2000 diets. In conclusion, supplementing low doses (500–1000 mg/kg) of coated zinc oxide were as effective in stimulating growth, alleviating post-weaning diarrhea, and improving small intestinal morphology and nutrient digestibility as when a pharmacological level of zinc oxide (2500 mg/kg) was included. Additionally, low doses of coated zinc oxide reduced the amount of zinc excreted into the feces compared with 2500 mg/kg conventional zinc oxide.

ZnO-carbon active nanostructured thin film fabrication by spin coating technique for enzymatic urea biosensing

Spin coated zinc oxide (ZnO)-carbon active porous media on the Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide (FTO) coated glass is presented as an engaged nomination for novel application in enzymatic urea biosensor. Some correlations between the processing parameters spinning speed, spinning duration, volume of solution and ZnO:carbon active ratio and respective thin film characteristics were determined, then uniform ZnO-carbon active the uniform film was achieved at the optimum deposition conditions. FE-SEM was employed to investigate the morphology and hardness of ZnO-carbon active thin film. The FE-SEM image illustrates cavities of a thin film as an efficient transducer area for immobilization of urease enzyme (Urs). Stepwise study of FTO/ZnO-carbon active/Urs biosensor manufacturing was performed by voltammetric and impedimetric techniques. The results revealed a good sensitivity for impedimetric urea retrieval between 8.0-110.0 mg dL-1 with detection limit of 5.4 mg dL-1.

Nanoparticles in mitigating gaseous emissions from liquid dairy manure stored under anaerobic condition.

A number of mitigation techniques exist to reduce the emissions of pollutant gases and greenhouse gases (GHGs) from anaerobic storage of livestock manure. Nanoparticle (NP) application is a promising mitigating treatment option for pollutant gases, but limited research is available on the mode of NP application and their effectiveness in gaseous emission reduction. In this study, zinc silica nanogel (ZnSNL), copper silica nanogel (CuSNL), and N-acetyl cysteine (NACL) coated zinc oxide quantum dot (Qdot) NPs were compared to a control lacking NPs. All three NPs tested significantly reduced gas production and concentrations compared to non-treated manure. Overall, cumulative gas volumes were reduced by 92.73%-95.83%, and concentrations reduced by 48.98%-99.75% for H2S, and 20.24%-99.82% for GHGs. Thus, application of NPs is a potential treatment option for mitigating pollutant and GHG emissions from anaerobically stored manure.

Cadmium sulfide coated zinc oxide photoelectrode: Preparation and characterization

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) coated zinc oxide photoanode is prepared using two step deposition processes at relatively low temperature. The zinc oxide (ZnO) were deposited on the conducting glass substrates using doctor blade technique followed by the coating of CdS over ZnO at room temperature using chemical bath deposition method. In the present article, we are using three different types of CdS (bulk and nano forms) prepared by using chemical route. The size of the CdS was controlled using different concentration of capping agent during preparation. The samples were characterized by optical absorption, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy techniques. Further, the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of ZnO with CdS was tested in polysulfide electrolyte. When the CdS nanoparticles were coated on the ZnO, the optical absorption is enhanced and band edge is shifted towards visible region (from 470 to 525 nm) as compared with zinc oxide (375 nm). The device with CdS nanoparticles (type-b) shows higher photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance showing maximum short circuit current density (Jsc) of 1.51 mA/cm2 along with maximum electron life time (25.2 ms).

Investigation of anticorrosion properties of nanocomposites of spray coated zinc oxide and titanium dioxide thin films on stainless steel (304L SS) in saline environment

The present study reports the anticorrosive nature of nanocomposite thin films of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide on steel substrate (304L SS) using spray coating method. The morphology and chemical constituents of the nanocomposite thin film were characterized by field effect scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive analysis of x-ray (EDAX) studies. From the EDAX studies, it was observed that nanocomposite coatings of desired stoichiometry can be synthesized using present coating technique. The cyclic voltametric techniques such as Tafel analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis were conducted to study the anticorrosion properties of the coatings. The Ecorr values obtained from Tafel polarization curves of the sample coated with nanocomposites of ZnO and TiO2 in different ratios (5:1, 1:1 and 1:5) indicated that the corrosion resistance was improved compared to bare steel. The coating resistance values obtained from the Nyquist plot after fitting with equivalent circuit confirmed the improved anticorrosion performance of the coated samples. The sample coated with ZnO: TiO2 in the ratio 1:5 showed better corrosion resistance compared to other ratios. The Tafel and EIS studies were repeated after exposure to 5% NaCl for 390 h and the results indicated the anticorrosive nature of the coating in the aggressive environment. The root mean square deviation of surface roughness values calculated from the AFM images before and after salt spray indicated the stability of coating in the saline environment.

Nanopesticidal effects of Pongamia pinnata leaf extract coated zinc oxide nanoparticle against the Pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus

Callosobruchus sp. is the major cause of damage to stored pulses. Recent advances in nanotechnology have provided us a promising tool for the management of insect pest of essential commodities. In the present study, we report the green synthesis and biological evaluation of Pongamia pinnata leaf extract coated zinc oxide nanoparticles (Pp-ZnO NPs) on the pulse beetle, C. maculatus. The green synthesized Pp-ZnO NPs were bio-physically characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Selective area electron diffraction (SAED), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and zeta potential. The bio-physical characterization revealed that the Pp-ZnO NPs has a hexagonal wurtzite structures with a mean particle size of 21.3 nm. In addition, zeta potential measurement demonstrated that the Pp-ZnO NPs are negatively charged (−12.45 mV) and are moderately stable. The pesticidal effect of Pp-ZnO NPs was tested against the pulse beetle, C. maculatus. Pp-ZnO NPs reduced the fecundity (eggs laid) and hatchability of C. maculatus in a dose-dependent manner. A significant delay in the larval, pupal and total development period of C. maculatus was observed after treatment with Pp-ZnO NPs at 25 μg mL−1. Furthermore, Pp-ZnO NPs are more effective in the control of C. maculatus and caused 100% mortality at 25 μg mL−1. The LC50 value was estimated to be 10.85 μg mL−1. In addition, treatment with Pp-ZnO NPs decreased the mid-gut α-amylase, cysteine protease, α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and lipase activity in C. maculatus. This study concludes that Pp-ZnO NPs are effective against C. maculatus and could be used as an alternative pest control agent in the management of stored grain insect pests in the future.

Ionic release behavior of polymer-coated and uncoated metal nanoparticles (MNPs) in various conditions: effects of particle shape, size, and natural media reactivity

Metal nanoparticles (MNPs), due to its increasingly wide applications in consumer products, raises its concern towards ecotoxicology. Once released into the environment, the zero-valent metal (M°) readily oxidized to ionic metal (M+) which is reported as the main source of toxicity related to MNPs. The current study investigated the oxidative dissolution and M+ release profiles, from polymer-coated and uncoated MNPs. The polyethylene imine coated silver nanoparticles (PEI@AgNPs), polyethylene glycol coated zinc oxide micro-rods (PEG@ZnOMRs), and uncoated titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) were synthesized with different size, shape, and surface functionalities, and M+ flow behavior was investigated through column transport experiment. The results obtained revealed that the ionic dissolution and M+ loss was 1.6–3.3% for PEI@AgNPs, 8.3–12.6% for TiO2NPs, and 13.6–19.0% for PEG@ZnOMRs. These results suggested that PEI surface coating greatly inhibit the M+ release and maximum column retention occurs in order of PEI@AgNPs ˃ TiO2NPs ˃ PEG@ZnOMRs.

Bacillus thuringiensis coated zinc oxide nanoparticle and its biopesticidal effects on the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus

Insect pests belonging to the genus Callosobruchus are the major cause of damage to stored pulse crops. Recently, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising tool for pest control. In the present study, we report for the first time the synthesis and biological evaluation of Bacillus thuringiensis coated zinc oxide nanoparticles (Bt-ZnO NPs) on the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus. The biologically synthesized Bt-ZnO NPs were extensively characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Zeta potential. The bio-physical characterization revealed that the Bt-ZnO NPs has a hexagonal wurtzite structures with an average particle size of 20nm. In addition, zeta potential measurement demonstrated that the Bt-ZnO NPs are negatively charged (−12.7mV) and are moderately stable. The biopesticidal effect of Bt-ZnO NPs was tested against the pulse beetle, C. maculatus. Treatment with Bt-ZnO NPs reduced the fecundity (eggs laid) and hatchability of C. maculatus in a dose-dependent manner. A significant delay in the larval, pupal and total development period of C. maculatus was observed after treatment with Bt-ZnO NPs at 25μg/mL. Furthermore, Bt-ZnO NPs are highly effective in the control of C. maculatus and caused 100% mortality at 25μg/mL. The LC50 value was estimated to be 10.71μg/mL. In addition, treatment with Bt-ZnO NPs decreased the mid-gut α-amylase, cysteine protease, α-glucosidase and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in C. maculatus. Our results suggest that Bt-ZnO NPs are effective against C. maculatus and could be used as nanobiopesticides in the control of stored grain insect pests in the future.

Amino acid functionalized zinc oxide nanostructures for cytotoxicity effect and hemolytic behavior: Theoretical and experimental studies

Blending of theoretical and experimental approach, provide an important strategy in designing the nanostructure at a microscopic level and helps in predicting the response of synthesized material towards inhibition of the growth of breast cancer cell. In this work, ab initio calculations using super cell approach are performed for three different amino acids (AAs)-Histidine (His), Arginine (Arg) and Aspartic acid (Asp) coated Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures to explain the growth mechanism of nanoparticles (NPs) of different shapes. Based on the first principles calculations, we reveal that ZnO-AA (Arg and Asp) NPs results in rod like and ZnO-His NPs lead to tablet like configuration. Similar morphologies are fabricated using AAs through synthetic route. The effect of concentration ratio of reactants and pH has been studied. As synthesized samples, are characterized by using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and UV–Vis spectroscopy techniques. Based on the results, a plausible mechanism of formation of nanostructures has been proposed. The nanostructures with rod like morphology are found to be biocompatible with normal red blood cells and show cytotoxic effect as evaluated from hemolysis and cytotoxicity assays on breast (MCF-7, T47D, MDA-MB-231) & prostate cancer (PC-3) cell lines.

Multipurpose efficacy of ZnO nanoparticles coated by the crustacean immune molecule β-1, 3-glucan binding protein: Toxicity on HepG2 liver cancer cells and bacterial pathogens

The effective treatment of cancer and bacterial pathogens are two key challenges in modern nanomedicine. Here, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were fabricated using the crustacean immune molecule β-1, 3- glucan binding protein (Phβ-GBP, 100kDa) purified from the heamolymph of Paratelphusa hydrodromus. β-GBP coated zinc oxide nanoparticles (Phβ-GBP-ZnO NPs) were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and high resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) analyses. Phβ-GBP-ZnO NPs inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus vulgaris. Protein and nucleic acid leakage assays showed that Phβ-GBP-ZnO NPs facilitate membrane permeability leading to cell death. The antibacterial activity of Phβ-GBP-ZnO NPs was due to the high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) release from bacterial cells post-treatment with 75μg/mL of Phβ-GBP-ZnO NPs. Confocal laser scanning microscopy pointed out that biofilm thickness was highly reduced post-treatment with nanoparticles. Cytotoxicity on human liver carcinoma (HepG2) cells highlighted that 75μg/mL of Phβ-GBP-ZnO NPs inhibited viability of HepG2 cells. Phase contrast microscopy showed key morphological changes of HepG2 cells post-treatment with Phβ-GBP-ZnO NPs. Overall, Phβ-GBP-ZnO NPs can be further considered for the development of novel drugs against microbial pathogens and HepG2 cells.