Zinc Nanoparticles Research Articles (Page 1)

The study was conducted during June, 2024–September, 2024 at College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Durg, Chhattisgarh, India aimed to research the effects of L-ascorbic acid and Zinc oxide nanoparticles supplementation to reduce transport induced stress in birds of Sonali breed. A total of 120, 6–7 weeks birds of sonali breed were divided into four different groups. Birds of group I were loaded in vehicle but not transported whereas Group II, III and IV were transported for a distance of 200km at 35–40kmh-1. Group III and IV birds received treatment of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs)in drinking water at 100µgml-1 and L-ascorbic acid (AA) at 82µgml-1, two days before the transportation. Blood samples were investigated for serum lipid profile and oxidative stress markers. A significant increase (p<0.05) in cortisol level, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, total serum protein values were reported in birds of following transportation stress. Significant altered (p<0.01) serum lipid profile was recorded in birds of T2 group. The content of MDA in thigh muscle homogenate was significantly decreased (P=0.001) whereas increased antioxidant enzymes were recorded with the treatment of ZnONP and Ascorbic acid. Our results implied that supplementation of antioxidants before transportation of birds could be helpful to reduce stress in birds with improved meat quality attributes.

Enhancing drought tolerance in wheat using zinc and iron nanoparticles: Implications for sustainable industrial crop productivity

Plant-mediated synthesis: Transforming traditional Bangladeshi medicinal plants into immunomodulatory nanoparticles for enhanced shrimp immunity and pathogen control.

The effects of foliar applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles and various biostimulants were studied to alleviate water stress in sugar beet. The experiment used a split-split-plot layout based on a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications over two growing seasons (2022–2024). The main plot consisted of two irrigation levels: Irrigation after 60 and 120 mm of evaporation was considered normal irrigation (WW) and water deficit stress (WD). Zinc nanoparticle (ZnO-NPs) levels (control, 0.2, and 0.4 mg L−1) were assigned to subplots, and biostimulants (control, chitosan, proline, and chitosan + proline) were assigned to sub-subplots. The results shoewd under WD conditions foliar spraying of 4 mg L−1 of ZnO-NPs increased the chlorophyll b content (22.85%), carotenoid (9.58%), proline content (18.42%), beta-glycine (13.20%), stomatal conductance (33.53%), gibberellin (GA) (9.09%), cytokinin (CK) (13.07%), catalase enzyme activity (CAT) (7.86%), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (25.56%), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) (5.34%), and root yield (RY) (10.48%) and decreased abscisic acid (ABA) (11.24%), malondialdehyde (MAD) (17.33%), and hydrogen peroxide (17.18%) compared to the control. Among biostimulants treatments, application of chitosan + proline under WD conditions increased the content of chlorophyll a (37.44%), chlorophyll b (16.23%), proline (4.87%), beta-glycine (18.09%), GA (7.00%), auxin (IAA) (35.40%), CK (18.03%), CAT (11.42%), APX (19.6%), and RY (11.46%) compared to control, and decreased the content of ABA (24.16%), MAD (9.03%), and hydrogen peroxide (11.50%). In this experiment, the combination of 2 mg L-1 ZnO-NPs with chitosan and proline exhibited a synergistic effect, increasing the content of chlorophyll a and b, relative water content (RWC), SOD, and RY, while reducing ABA. The lowest IBRv2 values were recorded for control + proline, control + chitosan, 2 mg L−1 ZnO-NPs + Control, 4 mg L−1 ZnO-NPs + Control, and 4 mg L−1 ZnO-NPs + Proline treatments. 4 mg L−1 ZnO-NPs + chitosan + proline (I = 0.803) and 4 mg L−1 ZnO-NPs + proline (I = 0.809) showed the smallest increases in MAD content. In terms of RY, the least decrease was observed in the treatments of 4 mg L−1 ZnO-NPs + Chitosan and Proline (I = − 0.492) and 4 mg L−1 ZnO-NPs + Proline (I = − 1.014).

Abstract This study evaluates the 12-month stability of conventional and nano loaded soap and ointment formulations, focusing on physicochemical and microbiological parameters. The nano loaded products incorporate silver (Ag), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) nanoparticles, known for their antioxidant, photoprotective, and antimicrobial properties. Over the storage period, the nano loaded soap consistently maintained a white, smooth, and clear appearance with minimal loss in surfactant and moisturizer content, stable pH, and significantly reduced microbial growth (< 10 CFU/g). In contrast, the conventional soap exhibited discoloration, viscosity loss, and a microbial count exceeding 10⁴ CFU/g by the twelfth month. Similarly, the nano loaded ointment retained its homogeneity, pH, viscosity, and softening point, showing no phase separation or microbial contamination. The conventional ointment, however, showed signs of degradation, including clumping, oil sweating, and microbial proliferation beyond safety thresholds. These findings highlight the multifunctional role of metal nanoparticles in stabilizing formulations by preserving their physical structure, chemical composition, and microbiological safety. The results affirm the superior shelf-life performance and safety of nano loaded topical products and support their continued development for cosmetic and therapeutic applications.

Soil salinization is currently a global ecological problem and is considered one of the main causes of reduced crop productivity. To enhance plant tolerance, one of the novel approaches is seed nanopriming, particularly through the application of metallic zinc nanoparticles. Soil biochar priming is also regarded as an effective means of improving soil structure and chemical properties, as well as mitigating salinity stress. The application of these materials promotes seed germination, growth, and development parameters even under stressful conditions. Accordingly, the present study aims to investigate the changes in seed germination of two genotypes (V1: Gohar; V2: Van) of Triticum aestivum L. under salinity stress conditions using zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and biochar. Within the scope of the study, germination parameters were calculated, including germination rate (GR), germination percentage (GP), germination vigor index (GVI), mean daily germination (MDG), mean germination time (MGT), and germination energy (GE). In addition, germination stress tolerance indices (PI and GSTI) under stress conditions were assessed. Overall, the results indicate that the application of biochar and ZnO nanoparticles significantly improved the germination capacity of wheat seeds under salinity stress. Therefore, the use of nanoparticles and biochar in agriculture is advisable as a strategy to enhance crop productivity, improve the physico-chemical and biological properties of the soil, and efficiently manage agricultural waste.

Effect of foliar application of zinc nanoparticles on growth and yield of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L Moench) under drought conditions

Using Shorea robusta flower extract (SRE) as a stabilizing and reducing agent, this study investigated the environmentally friendly synthesis of metal nanoparticles (NPs). Four metal NPs, namely cobalt (CoNPs), nickel (NiNPs), selenium (SeNPs) and zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) were synthesized. These NPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy and FTIR. The UV–Visible spectra confirmed successful synthesis with characteristic absorption peaks within [Formula: see text]270–285 nm of all NPs. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of functional groups such as –NH, –OH, C[Formula: see text]O and C–O, indicating phytochemical-mediated reduction and stabilization of the nanoparticles. The antibacterial and antioxidant properties of the synthesized NPs were assessed. SeNPs exhibited superior antibacterial activity compared with the other NPs, demonstrating a zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Antioxidant potential was assessed using DPPH, ABTS and phosphomolybdate assays, where SeNPs consistently demonstrated superior radical scavenging activity with [Formula: see text]94% inhibition in the DPPH assay at 100 μg/mL. Toxicity evaluation using the brine shrimp lethality assay indicated a concentration-dependent effect, with SeNPs showing relatively lower toxicity than other NPs. These findings highlight the biomedical potential of green-synthesized SeNPs, particularly for antibacterial and antioxidant therapies. This study supports the use of S. robusta as a sustainable and effective source for the eco-friendly synthesis of multifunctional nanoparticles.

Water deficit in the semi-arid region of Brazil is a critical limiting factor for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.), plant development and productivity. We evaluated whether foliar zinc (ZnO NPs) and iron (Fe2O3NPs) nano-oxides and their conventional salts (ZnSO4·7H2O and FeSO4·7H2O) mitigate water deficit effects on tomato (hybrid HM 2798). A split-plot field experiment was conducted with two irrigation levels (50% and 100% ETc) and five foliar treatments: control (no application), FeSO4·7H2O (T1), Fe2O3NPs (T2), ZnONPs (T3), ZnSO4·7H2O (T4), with four replications, totaling 40 experimental plots (2 irrigation levels × 5 foliar treatments × 4 replicates). The water deficit significantly reduced the leaf area index, photosynthetic rate, membrane stability, calcium and boron contents in fruits, and total and marketable yield. Foliar application of iron and zinc nano-oxides and their conventional sources had a limited effect on tomato plant growth but increased the photosynthetic rate under both irrigation levels. Under full irrigation, ZnSO4·7H2O increased total fruit production by 61% and fruit Zn content by 18.1%. In turn, Fe2O3 NPs (T2) led increases in fruit iron content by 117.3% under water deficit and 135.2% under full irrigation. Foliar application of Fe as Fe2O3 NPs is promising to promote the biofortification of tomato fruits with this micronutrient, especially in regions with deficiency problems of this micronutrient.

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) demands advanced low-cost cathodes that can overcome the intrinsic scaling limits of single-phase metals. Accordingly, we report a pulsed-potential-based square wave voltammetry (SWV) strategy to reconstruct ZnO nanoparticles into metallic Zn nanoislands embedded on the ZnO wurtzite surface, generating an enhanced density of Zn/ZnO heterointerfaces. TEM/FFT and XPS analyses confirmed more finely discrete metallic Zn domains with a balanced Zn(0)/Zn(II) ratio for the SWV-ZnO electrocatalyst. At these heterojunctions, they preferentially stabilized the *COOH intermediate and weakened *H adsorption, thereby suppressing the competing hydrogen evolution reaction. The SWV-ZnO delivered a peak CO Faradaic efficiency of 90% with a CO partial current density of 5.3 mA/cm2 at -1.05 V versus RHE in the H-cell, outperforming the pristine zinc nanoparticles and the previously reported potentiostatic reconstruction strategies (CA-ZnO). This work demonstrated that pulsed-potential electrochemical reconstruction offered a rapid and scalable route to engineer heterointerfaces, providing a practical blueprint for advancing sustainable CO2-to-CO conversion technologies.

Two isolates of Azotobacter spp. were isolated from the agricultural soil habitat of Jejuri village, Pune, Maharashtra, and identified using morphological characterization and biochemical tests. Zinc nanoparticles (Zn NPS) were synthesized from Azotobacter spp. and characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and FESEM. XRD analysis showed the nanocrystalline form of zinc oxide NPs, and the Scherrer equation determined a mean crystallite size of approximately 42 nm. The FESEM spectra revealed the spherical shape and agglomeration of the biosynthesized nanoparticles. Various functional groups were involved in the capping and stabilization of the zinc oxide NPs, as confirmed by FTIR analysis. A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of nanofertilizer prepared from zinc nanoparticles on parameters such as plant height, shoot length, root length, and dry leaf weight of Coriandrum sativum (coriander plant). In addition, parameters such as photosynthetic pigments, hormones, sugars, polyphenols, and proteins were tested. Mean values of measurements recorded on the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th days, along with standard deviation (SD) and percentage gain relative to the control measurements, were computed and reported. On the 12th day, the increase in height of the plant, length of the shoot, length of the root, and dry weight of the leaves in percentage were 9.24, 9.84, 10.86, and 11.71, respectively. On the 9th, 10th, and 11th days, the growth pattern was the same. To strengthen these results, advanced statistical analysis, such as analysis of variance (ANOVA), was performed and found that the growth in height of the plant, length of the shoot, length of the root, and weight of dry leaves significantly increased with respect to increasing days as well as increasing concentrations of nano fertilizer. Furthermore, to test significant differences in the mean chlorophyll content of both types of chlorophyll ‘a’ and chlorophyll ‘b’, a t-test for equality of population means was applied, and the results are reported. The results revealed that the nanofertilizer enhanced plant growth and health.

Zinc and titanium nanoparticles exposure intensifies the risk of skin issues by elevating cytokine gene expression despite following current international safety protocols.

Effects of pomegranate peel extract-coated zinc nanoparticles on antioxidant status, biochemical parameters, and pathological findings in broiler chickens infected by avian pathogenic E. coli

ABSTRACTHere, we show how Boswellia thurifera extract may be used to bio‐inspiredly synthesize zinc nanoparticles. B. thurifera was employed as an environmentally friendly medium that served as both an in situ stabilizer and a green reductant for the produced zinc nanoparticles. The intrinsic structural characteristics of the as‐synthesized Zn NPs were studied by FE‐SEM, EDX, XRD, and UV–Vis. Prostate cancer cell lines were used to evaluate the biogenic Zn NPs' antiprostate cancer capabilities. The MTT experiment showed that the Zn NPs could strongly inhibit the proliferation of LNCaP clone FGC‐Luc2 cancer cells. In contrast to their corresponding control, Zn NPs prevent colony development. More importantly, the cells molecular pathway analysis treated with zinc nanoparticles showed that the extract increases the expression of p53 while suppressing the expression of STAT3 in cells. This suggests that STAT3 and p53 are the primary players responsible for the biological events that the extract triggers in human prostate cancer cells. Our data suggest that zinc nanoparticles might be a very promising anticancer drug against human prostate cancer cells.

IntroductionNanotechnology is an innovative approach that involves the development, production, and application of materials via altering their shape and size on the nanometer scale, which ranges from 1 to 100 nm. Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are metal-oxide nanomaterials with distinct physical and chemical properties that make them valuable and adaptable inorganic compounds.MethodsThe C. revoluta extract was subjected to comprehensive phytochemical analysis, and showed presence of triterpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, steroids, resins, diterpenes, and coumarins. The ZnONPs synthesized using C. revoluta extract were optimized by synthesizing zinc nanoparticles at different temperatures and pH. The synthesis of ZnONPs was determined by the UV–Vis spectrophotometry, with the absorbed peak being observed at 364 nm. The characterization of ZnONPs was performed with XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and EDX analysis.ResultsThe surface morphology of the ZnONPs was analyzed using SEM, which revealed their spherical nature and particle size was determined to be 30 nm. Significant peaks were observed in the XRD pattern, confirming their sphere-like structure. FTIR spectra were recorded to determine the groups of biomolecules involved in synthesis. ZnONPs’ antibacterial efficacy against gram + ve and gram -ve bacteria, were positive. The ZnONPs demonstrated significant cytotoxic activity against TNBC MDAMB-231 cell line with an IC50 of 58.39 μg/mL. The percentage DPPH radical scavenging activity was 72.36% at 100 μg/mL concentration. Furthermore, ZnONPs showed significant (p < 0.001) wound healing characteristics in the excision wound model in rats with 99.29% wound contraction on treatment Day 16.DiscussionThe ZnONPs showed increased cell migration potential in the in vitro scratch assay, highlighting their potential for wound care and tissue regeneration applications. In future, more in-depth research and clinical evaluation are warranted to fully explore the therapeutic potential of these environmentally friendly ZnONPs.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary nano-selenium (Se-NP), nano-zinc (Zn-NP), and their combination, on the performance of Ossimi ewes and their offspring. Twenty-eight pregnant Ossimi ewes were randomly allotted to one of four equal experimental groups. The ewes were fed a basal diet with the addition of 0.3 mg selenium nanoparticles (Se-NP), 30 mg zinc (Zn-NP), or 0.3 mg Se-NP plus 30 mg Zn-NP (SZ-NP)/kg DM. The results showed that nutrient digestibility, nutritive values, milk yield, and fat corrected milk, as well as milk constituents yields, were improved (p < 0.05) for ewes fed Se-NP, Zn-NP, or SZ-NP vs. the control one. As well, lambs' birth weight, final body weight, and average daily gain were increased (p < 0.05). Serum immunoglobulin G, total protein, albumin, globulin, and glucose values were higher (p < 0.05); however, serum cholesterol level tended to be decreased. Ewes and their respective lambs in the Se-NP, Zn-NP, or SZ-NP groups had lower (p < 0.05) urea concentrations and liver enzyme activity than the control. Thyroid hormones, total antioxidant capacity, and glutathione peroxidase activity were higher (p < 0.05) in the Se-NP-, Zn-NP-, or SZ-NP-fed groups. This improvement was accompanied by favored growth performance, immune function, and overall health in their suckling lambs, with selenium being more effective than zinc. In conclusion, the dietary inclusion of selenium, zinc nanoparticles, or their combination can be an effective strategy to enhance productivity and health in ewes and their offspring.

ABSTRACTThe current investigation unveils the utilization of Lycopus lucidus extract for the eco‐friendly production of zinc nanoparticles and a study on the efficacy of NPs on dyspepsia in mice. The NPs were characterized by several methods. The XRD analysis confirms the crystallinity of ZnNPs@L. lucidus with the formula of ZnO and a crystal size of 28.4 nm. The particle size of ZnNPs@L. lucidus is revealed through FE‐SEM imaging, displaying a spherical structure measuring 40 nm in size. The efficacy of ZnNPs@L. lucidus in improving functional dyspepsia was demonstrated through the assessment of the gut microbiome, gastrointestinal motility, and hormonal changes in mice with reserpine‐induced functional dyspepsia. The gut microbiome data indicated that ZnNPs@L. lucidus could regulate the restoration of homeostasis and microbiome structure by reducing harmful bacterial abundance. The use of ZnNPs@L. lucidus resulted in an enhancement of gastrointestinal motility, including an increase in the rates of small intestinal transit and gastric emptying.

ABSTRACTIn this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and zinc nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized using extracts prepared from the fruits of Pyracantha coccinea M. Roem with a green chemistry method. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV–visible spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction technique (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). After characterization studies, antibacterial, antibiofilm, antiquorum sensing, and anticancer activities of AgNPs and ZnO NPs were investigated. According to the results of antibacterial activity tests performed using the broth dilution method, ZnO NPs were found to be effective against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 (MSSA) and S. aureus ATCC 43300 (MRSA), and AgNPs were found to be effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. Besides, AgNPs and ZnO NPs showed 88.5% and 39.98% antibiofilm activity, respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles did not show any antiquorum sensing activity. L929 (mouse fibroblast cell line) used as a control healthy cell line, and MCF7 (breast cancer), C6 (rat glioblastoma), and HT‐29 (colon cancer) cells were used in cell culture studies as cancer cell lines. As a result of the cell culture studies, it was determined that the two nanoparticles had cytotoxic effects on both the MCF7 and HT29 cell lines. However, both nanoparticles did not show a cytotoxic effect on glioma cells. Flow cytometry studies were performed with the structures found to be active. Apoptosis and cell cycle studies also gave results parallel to the MTT results and proved the activity of the new synthetic structures. The findings indicate that AgNPs and ZnO NPs synthesized by Pyracantha coccinea M. Roem with an environmentally friendly approach can be evaluated as potential antimicrobial and anticancer agents in various biomedical applications.

Metal nanoparticles are used in drug delivery to target drugs to specific cells, such as vascular endothelial cells of the pulmonary artery. Among the metal nanoparticles, zinc nanoparticles plays prominent role in sustained and targeted oriented drug delivery system. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of Selexipag zinc nanoparticles (SLX-ZnNP) including their analytical characterization, in vitro drug release behavior, and electrochemical properties. The nanoparticles were prepared by using the controlled sonochemical method to control their size and morphology. UV-Visible, XRD, SEM, and EDX, were employed to evaluate the physicochemical properties, crystalline structure, and surface morphology of the prepared nanoparticles. SLX-ZnNP showed the characteristic UV absorption peaks of at 202.7 and 271.4 nm. The SEM images of SLX-ZnNP particles shown floccule like structure in the images. Additionally, the electrochemical properties of SLX-ZnNP were analyzed by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) to understand their redox behavior and electroactive characteristics. In vitro drug release studies were performed using a dialysis membrane to assess the controlled release profile of SLX-ZnNP. The free SLX drug released rapidly within 8 hours, reaching 80% release. In contrast, the SLX-ZnNP exhibited a controlled release, with 99.72% of the drug being released after 24 hours. Mathematical models were applied to analyze the release profiles and gain insights into the mechanisms governing drug release from the nanoparticles. To ascertain whether the prepared SLX-ZnNP could bind with DNA, we carried out in vitro DNA binding studies and found the intrinsic binding constant (Kb) value to be 7350.26 L/µg. In conclusion, the controlled sonochemical synthesis and comprehensive analysis of SLX-ZnNP highlight their potential for targeted drug delivery in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Thermal radiation influence on nodal/saddle stagnation point flow with convective heat transfer in hybrid nanofluids containing gold and zinc nanoparticles