Zinc oxide nanoparticles for selective destruction of tumor cells and potential for drug delivery applications

Properties and potential applications of bioconjugates of R-phycoerythrin with Ag° or CdS nanoparticle synthesized in its tunnel cavity: A review

Green synthesis is a promising method for the preparation of nanoparticles (NPs) due to its simplicity, low cost, low toxicity, and environmental friendliness. Biosynthesized NPs exhibit multifunctional activity, good biocompatibility, and higher anticancer and antibacterial activity compared to chemically synthesized NPs. R-phycoerythrin, a photosynthetic light-harvesting pigment of protein nature (M.w. 290 kDa), is an attractive platform for the synthesis of small sizes NPs due to its structural features, non-toxicity, water solubility. Photosensitive bioconjugates of R-phycoerythrin with NPs were prepared by synthesizing Ag° and CdS NPs in tunnel cavities of R-phycoerythrin (3.5 × 6.0 nm) isolated from the red seaweed Callithamnion rubosum. The review is devoted to the physical processes and chemical reactions that occur in the native protein macromolecule of a complex structure during the synthesis of a NP in its cavity. The influence of Ago and CdS NPs on the electronic processes caused by the absorption of photons, leading to reversible and irreversible changes in R-phycoerythrin has been analyzed. Properties of R-phycoerythrin bioconjugates Ag° and CdS with NPs combined with the literature data suggest potential applications of Ag°⋅PE and CdS⋅PE bioconjugates for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring as well as for realizing theranostic strategy in the future. The use of these bioconjugates in anticancer therapy may have synergistic effects since both R-phycoerythrin and NPs induce cancer cell death.

An Expedition on Synthetic Methodology of FDA-approved Anticancer Drugs (2018-2021)

New drugs being established in the market every year produce specified structures for selective biological targeting. With medicinal insights into molecular recognition, these begot molecules open new rooms for designing potential new drug molecules. In this review, we report the compilation and analysis of a total of 56 drugs including 33 organic small molecules (Mobocertinib, Infigratinib, Sotorasib, Trilaciclib, Umbralisib, Tepotinib, Relugolix, Pralsetinib, Decitabine, Ripretinib, Selpercatinib, Capmatinib, Pemigatinib, Tucatinib, Selumetinib, Tazemetostat, Avapritinib, Zanubrutinib, Entrectinib, Pexidartinib, Darolutamide, Selinexor, Alpelisib, Erdafitinib, Gilteritinib, Larotrectinib, Glasdegib, Lorlatinib, Talazoparib, Dacomitinib, Duvelisib, Ivosidenib, Apalutamide), 6 metal complexes (Edotreotide Gallium Ga-68, fluoroestradiol F-18, Cu 64 dotatate, Gallium 68 PSMA-11, Piflufolastat F-18, 177Lu (lutetium)), 16 macromolecules as monoclonal antibody conjugates (Brentuximabvedotin, Amivantamab-vmjw, Loncastuximabtesirine, Dostarlimab, Margetuximab, Naxitamab, Belantamabmafodotin, Tafasitamab, Inebilizumab, SacituzumabGovitecan, Isatuximab, Trastuzumab, Enfortumabvedotin, Polatuzumab, Cemiplimab, Mogamulizumab) and 1 peptide enzyme (Erwiniachrysanthemi-derived asparaginase) approved by the U.S. FDA between 2018 to 2021. These drugs act as anticancer agents against various cancer types, especially non-small cell lung, lymphoma, breast, prostate, multiple myeloma, neuroendocrine tumor, cervical, bladder, cholangiocarcinoma, myeloid leukemia, gastrointestinal, neuroblastoma, thyroid, epithelioid and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. The review comprises the key structural features, approval times, target selectivity, mechanisms of action, therapeutic indication, formulations, and possible synthetic approaches of these approved drugs. These crucial details will benefit the scientific community for futuristic new developments in this arena.

Modified pectin with anticancer activity in breast cancer: A systematic review

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. The current pharmacological treatments for breast cancer have numerous adverse effects and are not always effective. Recently, the anticancer activity of modified pectins (MPs) against various types of cancers, including breast cancer, has been investigated. This systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) model, including scientific articles from the last 22 years that measured the anticancer activity of MPs on breast cancer. The articles were searched in four databases with the terms: "modified pectin" and "breast cancer". Nine articles were included, five in vitro and four mixed (in vitro and in vivo). Different models and methods by which anticancer activity was measured were analyzed. All the studies reported positive results in both cell lines and in vivo murine models of breast cancer. The extracted data suggest a positive effect and provide mechanistic evidence of MPs in the treatment of breast cancer. However, as limited number of studies were included, further in vivo studies are required to obtain more conclusive preclinical evidence.

The Potential of Nanotechnology to Replace Cancer Stem Cells

Stem cells, which were initially identified in the 1900s, are distinct cells with the potential to replenish themselves as well as differentiate into specialised cells with certain forms and functions. Cancer stem cells play a significant role in the growth and recurrence of the tumours and, similar to normal stem cells, are capable of proliferating and differentiating. Traditional cancer treatments are ineffective against cancer stem cells, which leads to tumour regrowth. Cancer stem cells are thought to emerge as a result of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition pathways. Brain, prostate, pancreatic, blood, ovarian, lung, liver, melanomas, AML, and breast cancer stem cells are among the most prevalent cancer forms. This review aims to comprehend the possibility of using specific forms of nanotechnology to replace cancer stem cells. In terms of nanotechnology, magnetic nanoparticles can deliver medications, especially to the target region without harming healthy cells, and they are biocompatible. In order to kill glioma cancer stem cells, the gold nanoparticles bond with DNA and function as radio sensitizers. In contrast, liposomes can circulate and traverse biological membranes and exhibit high therapeutic efficacy, precise targeting, and better drug release. Similar to carbon nanotubes, grapheme, and grapheme oxide, these substances can be delivered specifically when utilized in photothermal therapy. Recent treatments including signaling pathways and indicators targeted by nanoparticles are being researched. Future research in nanotechnology aims to develop more effective and targeted medicinal approaches. The results of the current investigation also showed that this technology's utilization will improve medical therapy and treatment.

Enantioselective Antiviral Activities of Chiral Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Chiral nanoparticles (C-NPs) play a crucial role in biomedical applications, especially in their biological effects on cytotoxicity and metabolism. However, there are rare reports about the antivirus property of C-NPs and their working mechanism. Here, three different types of chiral ZnO NPs (l-ZnO, d-ZnO, and dl-ZnO) were prepared as enantioselective antivirals. Biocompatibility test results showed that the three different chiral ZnO NPs varied significantly in cytotoxicity. Evaluation of their effects against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) indicated that compared with d-ZnO and dl-ZnO NPs, l-ZnO NPs exhibited stronger anti-PRRSV activity due to their higher cognate cell adhesion and uptake. Furthermore, the high concentration of l-ZnO NPs can obviously reduce cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MARC-145 cells, thus effectively preventing PRRSV-induced oxidative damage. This study demonstrated the outstanding antiviral properties of l-ZnO NPs, which may facilitate the development and application of C-NPs in antiviral drugs and tissue engineering.

Evaluation of antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles biosynthesized with Ziziphus spina-christi leaf extracts

Background: Due to their simplicity, eco-friendliness, availability and non-toxicity, the greener fabrication of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles has been a highly attractive research area over the last decade. Aim: This study aimed to assess the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using an aqueous leaf extract of Ziziphus spina-christi. Method: The antioxidant property of ZnO-NPs was analyzed by the α, α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Additionally, the diffusion agar method assessed the antimicrobial activities against bacteria and fungi. Results: ZnO-NPs synthesized by Z. spina-christi had shown promising H2O2 and DPPH free radical scavenging actions compared to vitamin C. The ZnO-NPs exhibited significant antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria with various susceptibility as a concentration-dependent effect. The largest zone of inhibition for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was observed (36 ± 2 mm) compared to Escherichia coli (E. coli) (15 ± 2 mm) by the same concentration of ZnO-NPs. The ZnO-NPs showed remarkable antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger. Conclusion: It can be concluded that, ZnO-NP have been imposed as suitable antimicrobial agent being able to combat both S. aureus and E. coli in vitro.

Study on the antibacterial effect of CuO nanoparticles on Klebsiella pneumonia bacteria: Efficient treatment for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a widespread type of cancer across the world. One efficient therapy approach is the use of antibiotic agents, but one of the main issues related to treating CRC is microbial resistance to antibiotics. As microbes are becoming more resistant to antibiotics and other traditional antimicrobial agents, nanobiotechnology has made it possible to employ nanomaterials with the aim of creating a new generation of antimicrobial agents. In the present study, we have assessed the antimicrobial potential of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) against gram-negative bacteria like Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying PKS genes responsible for encoding colibactin as the key factor for CRC development. For this purpose, the antibacterial effects of conventional antibacterial agents, including erythromycin, piperacillin, and ampicillin, as well as CuONPs, were compared on isolated strains from cancerous candidates. The obtained results revealed that isolates (K. pneumoniae) showed resistance toward the mentioned conventional antibiotics, but CuONPs showed efficient antibacterial properties against K. pneumonia with a MIC = 62 μg/mL. On the other hand, a synergistic antibacterial effect was obtained when CuONPs were used in combination with conventional antibiotics, which are ineffective when used alone. Therefore, CuONPs can be introduced as an excellent antimicrobial agent against K. pneumoniae bacteria in CRC, especially when they are combined with other antibiotics since they can activate the antimicrobial activity of the conventional antibiotics.

Optimized strategies of ROS-based nanodynamic therapies for tumor theranostics

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in regulating the metabolism of tumor growth, metastasis, death and other biological processes. ROS-based nanodynamic therapies (NDTs) are becoming attractive due to non-invasive, low side effects and tumor-specific advantages. NDTs have rapidly developed into numerous branches, such as photodynamic therapy, chemodynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy and so on. However, the complexity of the tumor microenvironment and the limitations of existing sensitizers have greatly restricted the therapeutic effects of NDTs, which heavily rely on ROS levels. To address the limitations of NDTs, various strategies have been developed to increase ROS yield, which is an urgent aspect for the positive development of NDTs. In this review, the nanodynamic potentiation strategies in terms of unique properties and universalities of NDTs are comprehensively outlined. We mainly summarize the current dilemmas faced by each NDT and the respective solutions. Meanwhile, the NDTs universalities-based potentiation strategies and NDTs-based combined treatments are elaborated. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of the key issues and challenges faced in the development and clinical transformation of NDTs.

Exploring the antibacterial and dermatitis-mitigating properties of chicken egg white-synthesized zinc oxide nano whiskers

Introduction

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have garnered considerable interest in biomedical research primarily owing to their prospective therapeutic implications in combatting pathogenic diseases and microbial infections. The primary objective of this study was to examine the biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanowhiskers (ZnO-NWs) using chicken egg white (albumin) as a bio-template. Furthermore, this study aimed to explore the potential biomedical applications of ZnO NWs in the context of infectious diseases.

Methods

The NWs synthesized through biological processes were observed using electron microscopy, which allowed for detailed examination of their characteristics. The results of these investigations indicated that the NWs exhibited a size distribution ranging from approximately 10 to 100 nm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) mapping analyses successfully corroborated the size, dimensions, and presence of biological constituents during their formation. In this study, XTT assay and confocal imaging were employed to provide evidence of the efficacy of ZnO-NWs in the eradication of bacterial biofilms. The target bacterial strains were Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Furthermore, we sought to address pertinent concerns regarding the biocompatibility of the ZnO-NWs. This was achieved through comprehensive evaluation of the absence of cytotoxicity in normal HEK-293T and erythrocytes.

Results

The findings of this investigation unequivocally confirmed the biocompatibility of the ZnO-NWs. The biosynthesized ZnO-NWs demonstrated a noteworthy capacity to mitigate the dermatitis-induced consequences induced by Staphylococcus aureus in murine models after a therapeutic intervention lasting for one week.

Discussion

This study presents a comprehensive examination of the biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanowhiskers (ZnO-NWs) derived from chicken egg whites. These findings highlight the considerable potential of biosynthesized ZnO-NWs as a viable option for the development of therapeutic agents targeting infectious diseases. The antibacterial efficacy of ZnO-NWs against both susceptible and antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, as well as their ability to eradicate biofilms, suggests their promising role in combating infectious diseases. Furthermore, the confirmed biocompatibility of ZnO-NWs opens avenues for their safe use in biomedical applications. Overall, this research underscores the therapeutic promise of ZnO-NWs and their potential significance in future biomedical advancements.

Characterizing the Ligand Shell Morphology of PEG-Coated ZnO Nanocrystals Using FRET Spectroscopy

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) ligands can inhibit proteins and other biomolecules from adhering to underlying surfaces, making them excellent surface ligands for nanocrystal (NC)-based drug carriers. Quantifying the PEG ligand shell morphology is important because its structure determines the permeability of biomolecules through the shell to the NC surface. However, few in situ analytical tools can reveal whether the PEG ligands form either an impenetrable barrier or a porous coating surrounding the NC. Here, we present a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) spectroscopy-based approach that can assess the permeability of molecules through PEG-coated ZnO NCs. In this approach, ZnO NCs serve as FRET donors, and freely diffusing molecules in the bulk solution are FRET acceptors. We synthesized a series of variable chain length PEG-silane-coated ZnO NCs such that the longest chain length ligands far exceed the Förster radius (R0), where the energy transfer (EnT) efficiency is 50%. We quantified the EnT efficiency as a function of the ligand chain length using time-resolved photoluminescence lifetime (TRPL) spectroscopy within the framework of FRET theory. Unexpectedly, the longest PEG-silane ligand showed equivalent EnT efficiency as that of bare, hydroxyl-passivated ZnO NCs. These results indicate that the "rigid shell" model fails and the PEG ligand shell morphology is more likely porous or in a patchy "mushroom state", consistent with transmission electron microscopy data. While the spectroscopic measurements and data analysis procedures discussed herein cannot directly visualize the ligand shell morphology in real space, the in situ spectroscopy approach can provide researchers with valuable information regarding the permeability of species through the ligand shell under practical biological conditions.

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Promise Anticancer and Antibacterial Activity in Ovarian Cancer

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal cancer in gynaecology. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are the most often used cancer-fighting strategies. Post-surgery infection is fairly prevalent, especially among people with insufficient immunity. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnOnps) have amazing biomedical features as anticancer and antibacterial agents.

METHODS

We investigated the behaviour of ZnOnps synthesized by green methods on ovarian cancers using established human ovarian cancer cell lines, besides the antibacterial action toward models of gram + ve and gram -ve bacteria. The cytotoxic effect of ZnOnps was calculated using a Sulforhodamine B (SRB) trial. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were tested as models for gram + ve and gram -ve bacteria. The selected bacteria were subjected to concentrations of 20, 40, 80, and 100 μg/ml.

RESULTS

The synthesized ZnOnps induced 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) at a concentration of 27.45 μg/ml. The diameter of inhibition ranged between 20.16 ± 0.16 and 27 ± 0.57 mm for S. aureus and 25.66 ± 0.33 to 31 ± 0.33 mm for E. coli. ZnOnps antagonistic effect statistically differed with neomycin, cefaclor, and cefadroxil.

CONCLUSIONS

Green synthesis of ZnOnps is easily prepared, low cost, non-toxic, and eco-friendly. Their cytotoxic action on SKOV3 cells and their antibacterial characteristics pave the way to be an alternative therapy for ovarian cancer and S. aureus and E. coli infection.

Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Cymbopogon citratus Extract and Its Antibacterial Activity

Excessive use of antimicrobial medications including antibiotics has led to the emerging menace of antimicrobial resistance, which, as per the World Health Organization (WHO), is among the top ten public health threats facing humanity, globally. This necessitates that innovative technologies be sought that can aid in the elimination of pathogens and hamper the spread of infections. Zinc oxide (ZnO) has multifunctionality owing to its extraordinary physico-chemical properties and functionality in a range of applications. In this research, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized from zinc nitrate hexahydrate, by a green synthesis approach using Cymbopogon citratus extract followed by characterization of the NPs. The obtained X-ray diffraction peaks of ZnO NPs matched with the standard JCPDS card (no. 89-510). The particles had a size of 20-24 nm, a wurtzite structure with a high crystallinity, and hexagonal rod-like shape. UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed absorption peaks between 369 and 374 nm of ZnO NPs synthesized from C. citratus extract confirming the formation of ZnO. Fourier transform infrared confirmed the ZnO NPs as strong absorption bands were observed in the range of 381-403 cm-1 corresponding to Zn-O bond stretching. Negative values of the highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital for ZnO NPs indicated the good potential to form a stable ligand-protein complex. Docking results indicated favorable binding interaction between ZnO and DNA gyrase subunit b with a binding energy of -2.93 kcal/mol. ZnO NPs at various concentrations inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Minimum inhibitory concentration values of ZnO NPs against E. coli and S. aureus were found to be 92.07 ± 0.13 and 88.13 ± 0.35 μg/mL, respectively, at a concentration of 2 mg/mL. AO/EB staining and fluorescence microscopy revealed the ability of ZnO NPs to kill E. coli and S. aureus cells. Through the findings of this study, it has been shown that C. citratus extract can be used in a green synthesis approach to generate ZnO NPs, which can be employed as alternatives to antibiotics and a tool to eliminate drug-resistant microbes in the future.

Combined Dextran-Graft-Polyacrylamide/Zinc Oxide Nanocarrier for Effective Anticancer Therapy in vitro

Introduction

Cancer chemotherapy faces two major challenges - high toxicity of active substances and tumor resistance to drugs. Low toxic nanocarriers in combination with anticancer agents can significantly increase the effectiveness of therapy. Modern advances in nanotechnology make it easy to create materials with the necessary physical and chemical properties.

Methods

Two hybrid nanosystems of dextran-polyacrylamide/ zinc oxide nanoparticles (D-PAA/ZnO NPs) were synthesized in aqueous solution with zinc sulphate (D-PAA/ZnO NPs (SO42-)) and zinc acetate (D-PAA/ZnO NPs (-OAc)). The light absorption, fluorescence, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy for nanocomposite characterization were used. MTT, neutral red uptake and scratch assays were selected as fibroblasts cytotoxicity assays. Cytotoxicity was tested in vitro for normal fibroblasts, MAEC, prostate (LNCaP, PC-3, DU-145) and breast (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7) cancer cells lines. Immunocytochemical methods were used for detection of Ki-67, p53, Bcl-2, Bax, e-cadherin, N-cadherin and CD44 expression. Acridine orange was used to detect morphological changes in cells.

Results

The radius of ZnO NPs (SO42-) was 1.5 nm and ZnO NPs (-OAc) was 2 nm. The nanosystems were low-toxic to fibroblasts, MAEC. Cells in the last stages of apoptosis with the formation of apoptotic bodies were detected for all investigated cancer cell lines. Proapoptotic proteins expression in cancer cells indicates an apoptotic death. Increased expression of E-cadherin and N-cadherin was registered for cancer cells line LNCaP, PC-3, DU-145 and MCF-7 after 48 h incubation with D-PAA/ZnO NPs (SO42-).

Conclusion

The nanosystems were low-toxic to fibroblasts, MAEC. The D-PAA/ZnO NPs nanosystem synthesized using zinc sulphate demonstrates high cytotoxicity due to destruction of various types of cancer cells in vitro and potentially increases adhesion between cells. Thus, our findings indicate the selective cytotoxicity of D-PAA/ZnO NPs against cancer cells and can be potentially used for cancer treatment.

Toward functionalization of ZnO nanotubes and monolayers with 5-aminolevulinic acid drugs as possible nanocarriers for drug delivery: a DFT based molecular dynamic simulation

We have investigated the interactions between a 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) drug and ZnO nanostructures including ZnO monolayers and ZnO nanotubes (ZnONTs) using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In the context of the dispersion corrected Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) approach, the energetics, charge transfer, electronic structure and equilibrium geometries have been estimated. As ALA is adsorbed onto/into the ZnONTs and on the ZnO monolayer with interaction energies (Eint) of -2.55/-2.75 eV and -2.51 eV, respectively, the calculated Eint values and bonding distances (∼2 Å) reveal that the interaction type is chemisorption. The ZnO nanostructures showed promising performance in the ALA drug functionalization, taking into account the interaction energy values. The band gap almost remains unchanged for both of the substrates under consideration after ALA adsorption, and the semiconductor properties of the substrates are preserved, according to the analyzed density of states (DOSs) spectra. The interaction nature of the ALA-ZnO nanostructures according to the atom in molecule (AIM) analysis was found to be polar attraction with partial covalent bonding between O and Zn. Our DFT based molecular dynamic (MD) simulation results demonstrate that, in the aqueous solution, ALA moves toward the interior sidewall of the ZnONTs and ZnO nanosheet surface and binds to the Zn atom through its O (carbonyl/hydroxyl groups) and N atoms and the hydroxyl H atom was dissociated and binds to the O atom of the ZnO surface. However, in the case of ALA adsorption onto the outer surface of ZnONTs, only the O atoms of carbonyl groups bind to the Zn atom and the structure of the drug remains undestroyed during the adsorption. The current findings shed light on the polar drug adsorption/encapsulation behavior on/into ZnO nanostructures, which may encourage further use of ZnO-based nanomaterials in the field of drug delivery and bio-functionalized nanomaterials.

Metal-Based Nanoparticles for Cancer Metalloimmunotherapy

Although the promise of cancer immunotherapy has been partially fulfilled with the unprecedented clinical success of several immunotherapeutic interventions, some issues, such as limited response rate and immunotoxicity, still remain. Metalloimmunotherapy offers a new form of cancer immunotherapy that utilizes the inherent immunomodulatory features of metal ions to enhance anticancer immune responses. Their versatile functionalities for a multitude of direct and indirect anticancer activities together with their inherent biocompatibility suggest that metal ions can help overcome the current issues associated with cancer immunotherapy. However, metal ions exhibit poor drug-like properties due to their intrinsic physicochemical profiles that impede in vivo pharmacological performance, thus necessitating an effective pharmaceutical formulation strategy to improve their in vivo behavior. Metal-based nanoparticles provide a promising platform technology for reshaping metal ions into more drug-like formulations with nano-enabled engineering approaches. This review provides a general overview of cancer immunotherapy, the immune system and how it works against cancer cells, and the role of metal ions in the host response and immune modulation, as well as the impact of metal ions on the process via the regulation of immune cells. The preclinical studies that have demonstrated the potential of metal-based nanoparticles for cancer metalloimmunotherapy are presented for the representative nanoparticles constructed with manganese, zinc, iron, copper, calcium, and sodium ions. Lastly, the perspectives and future directions of metal-based nanoparticles are discussed, particularly with respect to their clinical applications.

Rapid Bio-Assisted Synthesis and Magnetic Behavior of Zinc Oxide/Carbon Nanoparticles

The biomimetic synthesis of a ZnO/C nanocomposite has been achieved using the egg white-assisted self-combustion method. The characterization of this composite has been carried out using different techniques, such as XRD, FTIR, Raman, SEM/EDS and TEM. A comparative study was conducted between ZnO in the form of this composite and pristine ZnO, which was prepared via the same procedures but without the egg white. The resulting ZnO had a hexagonal structure, similar to wurtzite, with a P63mc space group. When this egg white method was used to produce a ZnO-based material, a ZnO/C nanocomposite was developed, and the ZnO’s crystallite size was significantly decreased. The structural properties—including the unit cell volume, strain, atom displacement and dislocation density—of this ZnO crystal are increased as a result of the presence of a C atom. On the other hand, the length of the Zn–O bond is reduced by the presence of the C atom. Results derived from a combination of Raman, FTIR, and EDS demonstrate that the carbonaceous layers and ZnO nanoparticles were integrated with a close interfacial contact. The preparation method used here brought about obvious changes in the morphological and magnetic behaviors of the as-prepared materials. Using a small amount of egg white resulted in the transformation of the particle’s shape from a hexagonal cone-type structure to an ellipsoidal structure. Based on an analysis of diffuse reflectance, the ZnO and ZnO/C band gap values were revealed using UV–VIS spectra. ZnO and ZnO/C exhibit band gap energies of 3.09 and 2.60 eV, respectively. A phase transition from weakly ferromagnetic to completely diamagnetic magnetic was discovered.

Intraperitoneal hepato-renal toxicity of zinc oxide and nickel oxide nanoparticles in male rats: biochemical, hematological and histopathological studies

In recent years, zinc oxide (ZnO) and nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles (NPs) have become more prevalent in commercial and industrial products. However, questions have been raised regarding their potential harm to human health. Limited studies have been conducted on their intraperitoneal toxicity in rats, and their co-exposure effects remain uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate some biological responses induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of ZnO-NPs (200 mg/kg) and/or NiO-NPs (50 mg/kg) in rats over time intervals. Blood and organ samples were collected from 36 male rats for hematological, biochemical, oxidative stress, and histological analysis. Results showed that the administration of NPs reduced the body and organ weights as well as red blood cell (RBC) indices and altered white blood cell (WBC) and platelet (PLT) counts. The experimental groups exhibited elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), creatinine (CREA), urea, lipid profile, glucose (GLU), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and decreased uric acid (UA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH). Histological observations also revealed architectural damages in liver and kidneys. These alterations were time-dependent and varied in their degree of toxicity. Co-exposure of NPs initially lessened the damage but increased it afterwards compared to individual exposure. In conclusion, intraperitoneal injection of ZnO-NPs and/or NiO-NPs alters biological processes and induces oxidative stress in rats' liver and kidneys in a time-dependent manner, with NiO-NPs being more potent than ZnO-NPs. Furthermore, co-exposed NPs initially appeared to be antagonistic to one another while further aiming toward synergism.

Nanoparticle Synthesis and Their Integration into Polymer-Based Fibers for Biomedical Applications

The potential of nanoparticles as effective drug delivery systems combined with the versatility of fibers has led to the development of new and improved strategies to help in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Nanoparticles have extraordinary characteristics that are helpful in several applications, including wound dressings, microbial balance approaches, tissue regeneration, and cancer treatment. Owing to their large surface area, tailor-ability, and persistent diameter, fibers are also used for wound dressings, tissue engineering, controlled drug delivery, and protective clothing. The combination of nanoparticles with fibers has the power to generate delivery systems that have enhanced performance over the individual architectures. This review aims at illustrating the main possibilities and trends of fibers functionalized with nanoparticles, focusing on inorganic and organic nanoparticles and polymer-based fibers. Emphasis on the recent progress in the fabrication procedures of several types of nanoparticles and in the description of the most used polymers to produce fibers has been undertaken, along with the bioactivity of such alliances in several biomedical applications. To finish, future perspectives of nanoparticles incorporated within polymer-based fibers for clinical use are presented and discussed, thus showcasing relevant paths to follow for enhanced success in the field.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles induce toxicity in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cell line U2932 via activating PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of lymphoma. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have excellent anti-tumor properties in the biomedical field. The present study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism by which ZnO nanoparticles induce toxicity in DLBCL cells (U2932) via the PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy pathway. After U2932 cells were exposed to various concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles, the cell survival rate, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cell cycle arrest, and changes in the expression of PINK1, Parkin, P62, and LC3 were monitored. Moreover, we investigated monodansylcadaverine (MDC) fluorescence intensity and autophagosome and further validated the results using the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA). The results showed that ZnO nanoparticles could effectively inhibit the proliferation of U2932 cells and induce cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phases. Moreover, ZnO nanoparticles significantly increased ROS production, MDC fluorescence intensity, autophagosome formation, and the expression of PINK1, Parkin, and LC3, and decreased the expression of P62 in U2932 cells. In contrast, the autophagy level was reduced after the intervention of the 3-MA. Overall, ZnO nanoparticles can trigger PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy signaling in U2932 cells, which may be a potential therapeutic approach for DLBCL.

Peptide-functionalized zinc oxide nanoparticles for the selective targeting of breast cancer expressing placenta-specific protein 1

Functionalized metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have demonstrated specific binding affinity to antigens or receptors presented on the cancer cell surface, favouring selective targeting and minimizing side effects during the chemotherapy. Placenta-specific protein 1 (PLAC-1) is a small cell surface protein overexpressed in certain types of breast cancer (BC); therefore, it can be used as a therapeutic target. The objective of this study is to develop NPs that can bind PLAC-1 and hence can inhibit the progression and metastatic potential of BC cells. Zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs were coated with a peptide (GILGFVFTL), which possesses a strong binding ability to PLAC-1. The physical attachment of the peptide to ZnO NPs was verified through various physicochemical and morphological characterization techniques. The selective cytotoxicity of the designed NPs was investigated using PLAC-1-bearing MDA-MB 231 human BC cell line and compared to LS-180 cells that do not express PLAC-1. The anti-metastatic and pro-apoptotic effects of the functionalized NPs on MDA-MB 231 cells were examined. Confocal microscopy was used to investigate the mechanism of NPs uptake by MDA-MB 231 cells. Compared to non-functionalized NPs, peptide functionalization significantly improved the targeting and uptake of the designed NPs by PLAC-1-expressing cancer cells with significant pro-apoptotic and anti-metastatic effects. The uptake of peptide functionalized ZnO NPs (ZnO-P NPs) occurred via peptide-PLAC1 interaction-assisted clathrin-mediated endocytosis. These findings highlight the potential targeted therapy of ZnO-P NPs against PLAC-1-expressing breast cancer cells.

Emerging biomaterials for tumor immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

The immune system interacts with cancer cells in various intricate ways that can protect the individual from overproliferation of cancer cells; however, these interactions can also lead to malignancy. There has been a dramatic increase in the application of cancer immunotherapy in the last decade. However, low immunogenicity, poor specificity, weak presentation efficiency, and off-target side effects still limit its widespread application. Fortunately, advanced biomaterials effectively contribute immunotherapy and play an important role in cancer treatment, making it a research hotspot in the biomedical field.

MAIN BODY

This review discusses immunotherapies and the development of related biomaterials for application in the field. The review first summarizes the various types of tumor immunotherapy applicable in clinical practice as well as their underlying mechanisms. Further, it focuses on the types of biomaterials applied in immunotherapy and related research on metal nanomaterials, silicon nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, polymer nanoparticles, and cell membrane nanocarriers. Moreover, we introduce the preparation and processing technologies of these biomaterials (liposomes, microspheres, microneedles, and hydrogels) and summarize their mechanisms when applied to tumor immunotherapy. Finally, we discuss future advancements and shortcomings related to the application of biomaterials in tumor immunotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Research on biomaterial-based tumor immunotherapy is booming; however, several challenges remain to be overcome to transition from experimental research to clinical application. Biomaterials have been optimized continuously and nanotechnology has achieved continuous progression, ensuring the development of more efficient biomaterials, thereby providing a platform and opportunity for breakthroughs in tumor immunotherapy.

Organic and inorganic nanomaterials: fabrication, properties and applications

Nanomaterials and nanoparticles are a burgeoning field of research and a rapidly expanding technology sector in a wide variety of application domains. Nanomaterials have made exponential progress due to their numerous uses in a variety of fields, particularly the advancement of engineering technology. Nanoparticles are divided into various groups based on the size, shape, and structural morphology of their bodies. The 21st century's defining feature of nanoparticles is their application in the design and production of semiconductor devices made of metals, metal oxides, carbon allotropes, and chalcogenides. For the researchers, these materials then opened a new door to a variety of applications, including energy storage, catalysis, and biosensors, as well as devices for conversion and medicinal uses. For chemical and thermal applications, ZnO is one of the most stable n-type semiconducting materials available. It is utilised in a wide range of products, from luminous materials to batteries, supercapacitors, solar cells to biomedical photocatalysis sensors, and it may be found in a number of forms, including pellets, nanoparticles, bulk crystals, and thin films. The distinctive physiochemical characteristics of semiconducting metal oxides are particularly responsible for this. ZnO nanostructures differ depending on the synthesis conditions, growth method, growth process, and substrate type. A number of distinct growth strategies for ZnO nanostructures, including chemical, physical, and biological methods, have been recorded. These nanostructures may be synthesized very simply at very low temperatures. This review focuses on and summarizes recent achievements in fabricating semiconductor devices based on nanostructured materials as 2D materials as well as rapidly developing hybrid structures. Apart from this, challenges and promising prospects in this research field are also discussed.

Green synthesis of highly efficient and stable copper oxide nanoparticles using an aqueous seed extract of Moringa stenopetala for sunlight-assisted catalytic degradation of Congo red and alizarin red s

Environmental pollution by organic pollutants because of population growth and industrial expansion is a global concern. Following this, the fabrication of single and efficient nanomaterials for pollution control is highly demanded. Under this study, highly efficient and stable copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were synthesized through the green method using Moringa stenopetala seed extract. XRD, UV-vis, FT-IR, and SEM were applied to characterize the synthesized material. From XRD data, the average particle size was found to be 6.556 nm, and the nanoparticles are crystalline in nature. The formation of CuO NPs was demonstrated by FT-IR spectra of Cu-O in different bending vibration bands at 535 cm-1 and 1122 cm-1, as well as stretching vibration of Cu-O at 1640 cm-1. From UV-visible spectroscopic measurements, the energy band gap of greenly synthesized CuO NPs was found to be 1.73 eV. The SEM result shows that the nanoparticles' surfaces are rough, with some of the particles having spherically random orientation. The photodegradation efficiency of green synthesized CuO NPs photocatalyst was found to be 98.35% for Congo red at optimum experimental parameters (initial concentration, 25 mg/L; exposure time, 120 min; catalyst dose, 0.2 g; and pH, 5) and 95.4% for Alizarin Red S at optimum experimental parameters (catalyst dose, 0.25 g; initial concentration, 40 mg/L; exposure time, 120 min; and pH, 4.6). The COD values determined for the degraded product strongly support the complete mineralization of the dyes toward nontoxic materials. Reusability of the catalyst was investigated for five cycles, and the results clearly indicate the green synthesized CuO NPs are highly stable, can be used for several times, and are cost-effective as well. The degradation of Congo red and Alizarin red S on the surface of the CuO NPs follows the MBG kinetic model.

Physiological and developmental dysfunctions in the dengue vector Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) immature stages following treatment with zinc oxide nanoparticles

The medical value of mosquitoes attracted researchers worldwide to search for a valuable way to control such serious insects. The continuous development of resistance against chemical insecticides pushed toward looking for novel and promising compounds against mosquitoes. In this study, the toxicity and physio-developmental effects of 10-30 nm spherical zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) in aqueous suspension was addressed against the first larval instar of Culex pipiens mosquito. The calculated value of LC₅₀ was about 0.892 g/L while the sub lethal concentration LC₂₀ recorded about 0.246 g/L. Larvae treated with ZnONPs suffered reduced growth rate, longer developmental period and malformations in the breathing tube. Furthermore, the treated larvae showed clear abnormal appearance of the gastric caeca and midgut epithelia under transmission electron microscope (TEM). These abnormalities appeared as condensation of the nuclear chromatin, abnormal shape or absence of microvilli, highly increased amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm and appearance of numerous vacuoles. Additionally, ZnONPs interfered with several biochemical pathways such as induction of oxidative stress which appeared in the form of increased levels of hydrogen peroxide and inability to activate the detoxifying enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). On the contrary, the activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased in treated larvae. Furthermore, LC₂₀ and LC₅₀ of ZnONPs inhibited the growth rate of the larval gut fauna in vitro. These results clearly show that ZnONPs target several tissues leading to serious alteration in the physiological and developmental processes in C. pipiens mosquito larvae.

Comparative In Vitro Anticancer Study of Cisplatin Drug with Green Synthesized ZnO Nanoparticles on Cervical Squamous Carcinoma (SiHa) Cell Lines

In this article, we aimed to develop a unique treatment approach to cure cervical cancer without harming healthy normal cells and overcome the limitations of currently available therapies/treatments. Recently, chemotherapeutics based on metal oxides have gained attention as a promising approach for treating cancer. Herein, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized with the leaf extract of Azadirachta indica. These green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were used for a cytotoxic study on the cervical squamous carcinoma cell line SiHa and murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Moreover, a hemolytic assay was performed to check the biocompatibility of ZnO nanoparticles. The biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles were labeled as L1, L2, L5, and L10 nanoparticles. Various assays like crystal violet, MTT assay, and AO/PI dual staining method were performed to assess the anticancer potential of ZnO. The concentration of ZnO nanoparticles was taken in the range of 100-250 μg/mL in the in vitro anticancer study on SiHa cancer cell lines. The findings of the MTT assay revealed that biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles exhibited significant cytotoxicity against SiHa cancer cell lines dose-dependently at two incubation times (24 and 48 h). Also, a decrease in cell viability was observed with an increased concentration of ZnO. The IC₅₀ values obtained were 141 μg/mL for L1, 132 μg/mL for L2, 127 μg/mL for L5, and 115 μg/mL for L10 nanoparticles. In addition, cisplatin drug (10 μg/mL) was also used to compare the anticancer activity with the biosynthesized L1, L2, L5, and L10 nanoparticles. The results of the crystal violet assay and AO/PI dual staining method revealed that morphological changes like cell shrinkage, poor cell adhesion, and induction of apoptosis occurred in the SiHa cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the stability of the ZnO nanoparticles at physiological pH has been assessed by recording the UV-visible spectrum at various pH values. Hence, the overall findings suggested that biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles can be utilized for cervical squamous cancer treatment in addition to the current treatment strategies/techniques.

Biogenic Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Biomedical Applications: A Review

Nanotechnology has inscribed novel perception into the material science and one of the most extensively used nanomaterials is Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with healthcare and biomedical applications. Because of its outstanding biocompatibility, low toxicity, and low cost, ZnO NPs have become one of the most prominent metal oxide NPs in biological applications. This review highlights the different aspects of ZnO NPs, like their green synthesis as a substitute of conventional route due to avoidance of threat of hazardous, costly precursors and subsequent mostly therapeutic applications. Due to their wide bandwidth and high excitation binding energy, ZnO NPs have undergone extensive research. In addition to their potential applications as antibiotics, antioxidants, anti-diabetics, and cytotoxic agents, ZnO NPs also hold a promising future as an antiviral treatment for SARS-CoV-2. Zn has antiviral properties and may be effective against a variety of respiratory virus species, particularly SARS-CoV-2. This review includes a variety of topics, including the virus's structural properties, an overview of infection mechanism, and current COVID-19 treatments. Nanotechnology-based techniques for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19 are also discussed in this review.

Emerging Advancements in Piezoelectric Nanomaterials for Dynamic Tumor Therapy

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases, having spurred researchers to explore effective therapeutic strategies for several centuries. Although efficacious, conventional chemotherapy usually introduces various side effects, such as cytotoxicity or multi−drug resistance. In recent decades, nanomaterials, possessing unique physical and chemical properties, have been used for the treatment of a wide range of cancers. Dynamic therapies, which can kill target cells using reactive oxygen species (ROS), are promising for tumor treatment, as they overcome the drawbacks of chemotherapy methods. Piezoelectric nanomaterials, featuring a unique property to convert ultrasound vibration energy into electrical energy, have also attracted increasing attention in biomedical research, as the piezoelectric effect can drive chemical reactions to generate ROS, leading to the newly emerging technique of ultrasound−driven tumor therapy. Piezoelectric materials are expected to bring a better solution for efficient and safe cancer treatment, as well as patient pain relief. In this review article, we highlight the most recent achievements of piezoelectric biomaterials for tumor therapy, including the mechanism of piezoelectric catalysis, conventional piezoelectric materials, modified piezoelectric materials and multifunctional piezoelectric materials for tumor treatment.

Effect of Nano- and Microzinc Supplementation on the Mineral Composition of Bones of Rats with Induced Mammary Gland Cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine changes in the mineral composition of the bones of rats with chemically induced mammary gland cancer and to attempt to establish whether a specific diet modification involving the inclusion of zinc ions in two forms-nano and micro-will affect the mineral composition of the bones.

METHODS

Female Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the research. The animals were randomly assigned to three experimental groups. All animals were fed a standard diet (Labofeed H), and selected groups additionally received zinc nanoparticles or microparticles in the amount of 4.6 mg/mL. To induce mammary cancer, the animals were given 7,12-dimethyl-1,2-benz[a]anthracene. The content of Ag, As, B, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb, Se, Sr, Tl, U, and V was determined using ICP-MS, while that of Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, and Zn was determined using FAAS.

RESULTS

The use of a diet enriched with zinc nano- or microparticles significantly influenced the content of the elements tested. In the bones of rats fed a diet with zinc nanoparticles, changes were found in the content of Ca, Mg, Zn, Cd, U, V, and Tl, while in the case of the diet supplemented with zinc microparticles, there were differences in six elements-Ca, Mg, B, Cd, Ag, and Pb-compared to animals receiving an unsupplemented diet.

CONCLUSIONS

The content of elements in the bone tissue of rats in the experimental model indicates disturbances of mineral metabolism in the tissue at an early stage of mammary cancer.

Spectroscopic signature of ZnO NP-induced cell death modalities assessed by non-negative PCA

Selective cytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles among different cell types and cancer and non-cancerous cells has been demonstrated earlier. In the view of anticancer potential of ZnO nanoparticles and their presence in numerous industrial products, it is of great importance to carefully evaluate their effects and mechanisms of action in both cancerous and healthy cells. In this paper, the effects of ZnO nanoparticles on cancerous HeLa and non-cancerous MRC-5 cells are investigated by studying the changes in the vibrational properties of the cells using Raman spectroscopy. Both types of cells were incubated with ZnO nanoparticles of average size 40 nm in the doses from the range 10-40 µg/ml for the period of 48 h, after which Raman spectra were collected. Raman modes' intensity ratios I₁₆₅₉/I₁₄₄₄, I₂₈₅₅/I₂₉₃₃ and I₁₃₃₇/I₁₃₀₅ were determined as spectral markers of the cytotoxic effect of ZnO in both cell types. Non-negative principal component analysis was used instead of standard one for analysis and detection of spectral features characteristic for nanoparticle-treated cells. The first several non-negative loading vectors obtained in this analysis coincided remarkably well with the Raman spectra of particular biomolecules, showing increase of lipid and decrease of nucleic acids and protein content. Our study pointed out that Raman spectral markers of lipid unsaturation, especially I₁₂₇₀/I₁₃₀₀, are relevant for tracing the cytotoxic effect of ZnO nanoparticles on both cancerous and non-cancerous cells. The change of these spectral markers is correlated to the dose of applied nanoparticles and to the degree of cellular damage. Furthermore, great similarity of spectral features of increasing lipids to spectral features of phosphatidylserine, one of the main apoptotic markers, was recognized in treated cells. Finally, the results strongly indicated that the degree of lipid saturation, presented in the cells, plays an important role in the interaction of cells with nanoparticles.

The advance anticancer role of polymeric core-shell ZnO nanoparticles containing oxaliplatin in colorectal cancer

We evaluated the activity of core-shell ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs@polymer shell) containing Oxaliplatin via polymerization through in vitro studies and in vivo mouse models of colorectal cancer. ZnO NPs were synthesized in situ when the polymerization step was completed by co-precipitation. Gadolinium coordinated-ZnONPs@polymer shell (ZnO-Gd NPs@polymer shell) was synthesized by exploiting Gd's oxophilicity (III). The biophysical properties of the NPs were studied using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), field emission electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and z-potential. (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT) was used to determine the antiproliferative activity of ZnO-Gd-OXA. Moreover, a xenograft mouse model of colon cancer was exerted to survey its antitumor activity and effect on tumor growth. In the following, the model was also evaluated by histological staining (H-E; Hematoxylin & Eosin and trichrome staining) and gene expression analyses through the application of RT-PCR/ELISA, which included biochemical evaluation (MDA, thiols, SOD, CAT). The formation of ZnO NPs, which contained a crystallite size of 16.8 nm, was confirmed by the outcomes of the PXRD analysis. The Plate-like morphology and presence of Pt were obtained in EDX outcomes. TEM analysis displayed the attained ZnO NPs in a spherical shape and a diameter of 33 ± 8.5 nm, while the hydrodynamic sizes indicated that the particles were highly aggregated. The biological results demonstrated that ZnO-Gd-OXA inhibited tumor growth by inducing reactive oxygen species and inhibiting fibrosis, warranting further research on this novel colorectal cancer treatment agent.

Nanotechnological advancements in the brain tumor therapy: a novel approach

Nanotechnological advancements over the past few years have led to the development of newer treatment strategies in brain cancer therapy which leads to the establishment of nano oncology. Nanostructures with high specificity, are best suitable to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Their desired physicochemical properties, such as small sizes, shape, higher surface area to volume ratio, distinctive structural features, and the possibility to attach various substances on their surface transform them into potential transport carriers able to cross various cellular and tissue barriers, including the BBB. The review emphasizes nanotechnology-based treatment strategies for the exploration of brain tumors and highlights the current progress of different nanomaterials for the effective delivery of drugs for brain tumor therapy.

Phytofabrication and Characterisation of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Pure Curcumin

Zinc oxide and curcumin, on their own and in combination, have the potential as alternatives to conventional anticancer drugs. In this work, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were prepared by an eco-friendly method using pure curcumin, and their physicochemical properties were characterised. ATR-FTIR spectra confirmed the role of curcumin in synthesising zinc oxide curcumin nanoparticles (Green-ZnO-NPs). These nanoparticles exhibited a hexagonal wurtzite structure with a size and zeta potential of 27.61 ± 5.18 nm and -16.90 ± 0.26 mV, respectively. Green-ZnO-NPs showed good activity towards studied bacterial strains, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentration of Green-ZnO-NPs was consistently larger than that of chemically synthesised ZnO NPs (Std-ZnO-NPs) or mere curcumin, advocating an additive effect between the zinc oxide and curcumin. Green-ZnO-NPs demonstrated an efficient inhibitory effect towards MCF-7 cells with IC50 (20.53 ± 5.12 μg/mL) that was significantly lower compared to that of Std-ZnO-NPs (27.08 ± 0.91 μg/mL) after 48 h of treatment. When Green-ZnO-NPs were tested against Artemia larvae, a minimised cytotoxic effect was observed, with LC50 being almost three times lower compared to that of Std-ZnO-NPs (11.96 ± 1.89 μg/mL and 34.60 ± 9.45 μg/mL, respectively). This demonstrates that Green-ZnO-NPs can be a potent, additively enhanced combination delivery/therapeutic agent with the potential for anticancer therapy.

Polarization Controlled Assembly of Ultrathin Thiorphan Nanostructures on ZnO Surface Facets

Despite the importance of thiorphan as a small molecule with vital biological roles, its interactions with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterials that are prospective in drug delivery and theranostic applications have not yet been sufficiently explored. Here the impact of surface polarity of different ZnO facets on thiorphan adsorption is studied both experimentally by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and angle resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and theoretically by force field molecular dynamics (FFMD) and density functional tight binding simulations (DFTB). Polar ZnO surfaces cause the formation of thiorphan nanodots, where the size of the nanodots depends on the direction of dipoles: small (4 nm) nanodots are formed on Zn-face ZnO, while large (25 nm) nanodots are formed on O-face ZnO. Nonpolar ZnO surfaces cause self-assembly into layered nanoislands with characteristic 4 nm layer thickness, which subsequently merge into rigid nanolayers. The self-assembly is shown to be controlled solely by the effect of surface dipole electric field orientation and magnitude, whereas effects of surface chemistry or solution are negligible. The results thus also show a way for controlling the assembly of thiorphan and other molecular nanomaterials for diverse applications.

Mechanistic Approaches to the Application of Nano-Zinc in the Poultry and Biomedical Industries: A Comprehensive Review of Future Perspectives and Challenges

Bio-fortification is a new, viable, cost-effective, and long-term method of administering crucial minerals to a populace with limited exposure to diversified foods and other nutritional regimens. Nanotechnology entities aid in the improvement of traditional nutraceutical absorption, digestibility, and bio-availability. Nano-applications are employed in poultry systems utilizing readily accessible instruments and processes that have no negative impact on animal health and welfare. Nanotechnology is a sophisticated innovation in the realm of biomedical engineering that is used to diagnose and cure various poultry ailments. In the 21st century, zinc nanoparticles had received a lot of considerable interest due to their unusual features. ZnO NPs exhibit antibacterial properties; however, the qualities of nanoparticles (NPs) vary with their size and structure, rendering them adaptable to diverse uses. ZnO NPs have shown remarkable promise in bio-imaging and drug delivery due to their high bio-compatibility. The green synthesized nanoparticles have robust biological activities and are used in a variety of biological applications across industries. The current review also discusses the formulation and recent advancements of zinc oxide nanoparticles from plant sources (such as leaves, stems, bark, roots, rhizomes, fruits, flowers, and seeds) and their anti-cancerous activities, activities in wound healing, and drug delivery, followed by a detailed discussion of their mechanisms of action.

Biosynthesis, Characterization, and Augmented Anticancer Activity of ZrO2 Doped ZnO/rGO Nanocomposite

Fabrication of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) via green process has received enormous attention for its application in biomedicine. Here, a simple and cost-effective green route is reported for the synthesis of ZrO₂-doped ZnO/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (ZnO/ZrO₂/rGO NCs) exploiting ginger rhizome extract. Our aim was to improve the anticancer performance of ZnO/ZrO₂/rGO NCs without toxicity to normal cells. The preparation of pure ZnO NPs, ZnO/ZrO₂ NCs, and ZnO/ZrO₂/rGO NCs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). XRD spectra of ZnO/ZrO₂/rGO NCs exhibited two distinct sets of diffraction peaks, ZnO wurtzite structure, and ZrO₂ phases (monoclinic + tetragonal). The SEM and TEM data show that ZrO₂-doped ZnO particles were uniformly distributed on rGO sheets with the excellent quality of lattice fringes without alterations. PL spectra intensity and particle size of ZnO decreased after ZrO₂-doping and rGO addition. DLS data demonstrated that green prepared samples show excellent colloidal stability in aqueous suspension. Biological results showed that ZnO/ZrO₂/rGO NCs display around 3.5-fold higher anticancer efficacy in human lung cancer (A549) and breast cancer (MCF7) cells than ZnO NPs. A mechanistic approach suggested that the anticancer response of ZnO/ZrO₂/rGO NCs was mediated via oxidative stress evident by the induction of the intracellular reactive oxygen species level and the reduction of the glutathione level. Moreover, green prepared nanostructures display good cytocompatibility in normal cell lines; human lung fibroblasts (IMR90) and breast epithelial (MCF10A) cells. However, the cytocompatibility of ZnO/ZrO₂/rGO NCs in normal cells was better than those of pure ZnO NPs and ZnO/ZrO₂ NCs. Augmented anticancer potential and improved cytocompatibility of ZnO/ZrO₂/rGO NCs was due to ginger extract mediated beneficial synergism between ZnO, ZrO₂, and rGO. This novel investigation emphasizes the significance of medicinal herb mediated ZnO-based NCs synthesis for biomedical research.

Identification of potent COVID-19 main protease inhibitors by loading of favipiravir on Mg12O12 and Zn12O12 nanoclusters: an in silico strategy for COVID-19 treatment

Pandemic new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) virus has increased throughout the world. There is no effective treatment against this virus until now. Since its appearance in Wuhan, China in December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 becomes the largest challenge the world is opposite today, including the discovery of an antiviral drug for this virus. Several viral proteins have been prioritized as SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drug targets, among them the papain-like protease (PLpro) and the main protease (Mpro). Inhibition of these proteases would target viral replication, viral maturation and suppression of host innate immune responses. Potential candidates have been identified to show inhibitory effects against Mpro, both in biochemical assays and viral replication in cells. There are different molecules such as lopinavir and favipiravir considerably inhibit the activity of Mpro in vitro. Different studies have shown that structurally improved favipiravir and other similar compounds can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 main protease. In this work, we study the interactions between favipiravir with Mg12O12 and Zn12O12 nanoclusters by density functional theory (DFT) and quantum mechanics atoms in molecules (QMAIM) methods to summarize the ability to load favipiravir onto Mg12O12 and Zn12O12 nanoclusters. Favipiravir-Mg12O12 and favipiravir-Zn12O12 lowest structures complexes were chosen to dock inside the SARS-CoV-2 main protease by molecular docking study. The molecular docking analysis revealed that the binding affinity of Mg12O12 and Zn12O12 nanoclusters inside the Mpro receptor is larger than that of favipiravir. Also, the loading of favipiravir on the surface of Mg12O12 and Zn12O12 nanoclusters increased the binding affinity against the Mpro receptor. Subsequently, 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation of the favipiravir-Mg12O12, and favipiravir-Zn12O12 docked inside the Mpro complexes established that favipiravir-Mg12O12, forms the most stable complex with the Mpro. Further molecular mechanics Poisson Boltzmann surface area (MMPBSA) analyses using the MD trajectories also demonstrated the higher binding affinity of favipiravir-Mg12O12 inside the Mpro. In summary, this study demonstrates a new way to characterize leads for novel anti-viral drugs against SARS-CoV-2, by improving the drug ability of favipiravir via loading it on Mg12O12 and Zn12O12 nanoclusters.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles inhibit osteosarcoma metastasis by downregulating β-catenin via HIF-1α/BNIP3/LC3B-mediated mitophagy pathway

Osteosarcoma (OS) therapy faces many challenges, especially the poor survival rate once metastasis occurs. Therefore, it is crucial to explore new OS treatment strategies that can efficiently inhibit OS metastasis. Bioactive nanoparticles such as zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) can efficiently inhibit OS growth, however, the effect and mechanisms of them on tumor metastasis are still not clear. In this study, we firstly prepared well-dispersed ZnO NPs and proved that ZnO NPs can inhibit OS metastasis-related malignant behaviors including migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). RNA-Seqs found that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ZnO NP-treated OS cells were enriched in wingless/integrated (Wnt) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) signaling pathway. We further proved that Zn²⁺ released from ZnO NPs induced downregulation of β-catenin expression via HIF-1α/BNIP3/LC3B-mediated mitophagy pathway. ZnO NPs combined with ICG-001, a β-catenin inhibitor, showed a synergistic inhibitory effect on OS lung metastasis and a longer survival time. In addition, tissue microarray (TMA) of OS patients also detected much higher β-catenin expression which indicated the role of β-catenin in OS development. In summary, our current study not only proved that ZnO NPs can inhibit OS metastasis by degrading β-catenin in HIF-1α/BNIP3/LC3B-mediated mitophagy pathway, but also provided a far-reaching potential of ZnO NPs in clinical OS treatment with metastasis.

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Zn²⁺ released from bioactive ZnO NPs trigger OS metastasis inhibition.

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ZnO NPs inhibit OS metastasis through degrading β-catenin expression via HIF-1α/BNIP3/LC3B-mediated mitophagy pathway.

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Tissue microarray of OS patients detected higher β-catenin expression which confirmed the potential of ZnO NPs in clinical.

Site specific interactions of amino acids with (ZnO)12 cluster: Density functional approach

The Stability and electronic properties of bio-hybrid molecules are investigated in the framework of the first-principles density functional theory. The site-specific interactions between (ZnO)₁₂ nano-cluster and arginine/aspartic acid are investigated. There are partially ionic and covalent bonds between the interacting atoms, higher binding energy 8.86 eV is observed at -COOH site of arginine, and 7.60 eV at -CN site of aspartic acid during the interaction with a nano-cluster. Higher HOMO-LUMO gap 4.3 eV is found in arginine, and smaller 2.6 eV in a cluster, it becomes zero with -COOH site of arginine, and 0.8 eV at -CN site of aspartic acid during the formation of bio-hybrids, i.e. highly stable amino acids arg/asp-nano-cluster (ZnO)₁₂ bio-hybrids are formed with small forbidden energy-gap. This study will support in the formation of drugs which will improve the response in wound healing, immune functioning in burn injuries, and in the treatment of bone dysfunction.HighlightsThe binding energy is higher in a bio-hybrid at -COOH site of Arg, and -CN site of Asp.HOMO-LUMO gap is higher in a pristine Arg (4.3 eV), smaller in a cluster (2.6 eV), zero gap in a bio-hybrid with -COOH site of Arg, smaller 0.8 eV at -CN site of Asp.Higher binding energy is found with the small forbidden energy-gap of bio-hybrid molecules.This study will support in the formation of drugs which will improve the response in wound healing, immune functioning in burn injuries, and in the treatment of bone dysfunction.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Influence of Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Molecular Interaction and Comparative Binding of Azure Dye with Chymotrypsin: Novel Nano-Conjugate for Cancer Phototherapy

Till date, different types of conventional drugs have been used to fight tumors. However, they have significant flaws, including their usage being constrained because of their low bioavailability, poor supply, and serious side effects. The modern combination therapy has been viewed as a potent strategy for treating serious illnesses, including cancer-type feared diseases. The nanoparticles are a promising choice for cancer therapeutic and diagnostic applications because of their fascinating optoelectronic and physicochemical features. Among the metallic nanoparticles, Zinc oxide nanoparticles possess interesting physicochemical and anti-cancer characteristics, such as ROS generation, high retention, enhanced permeability etc., making them attractive candidates for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer. Zinc oxide nanoparticles showed anti-cancer property via excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and by the destruction of mitochondrial membrane. Here, we have synthesized organic/inorganic hybrid nanosystem composed of chymotrypsin protein (Chymo) with AzureC (AzC) conjugated with Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs). The conjugation of AzureC with ZnONPs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiment. The interaction of Chymo with AzC alone and AzC-ZnONPs was investigated, and it was observed that the interaction was enhanced in the presence of ZnONPs, which was concluded by the results obtained from different spectroscopic techniques such as UV-Visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism in combination with molecular docking. UV-Visible spectroscopic studies and the corresponding binding parameters showed that the binding of AzC-ZnONPs complex with Chymo is much higher than that of AzC alone. Moreover, the fluorescence measurement showed enhancement in static quenching during titration of Chymo with AzC-ZnONPs as compared to dye alone. In addition to this, circular dichroism results show that the dye and dye-NPs conjugate do not cause much structural change in α-Chymo. The molecular docking and thermodynamic studies showed the predominance of hydrogen bonding, Van der Waal force, and hydrophobic forces during the interactions. After correlation of all the data, interaction of Chymo with AzC-ZnONPs complex showed strong interaction as compared to dye alone. The moderate binding with chymo without any alteration in the structure makes it desirable for the distribution and pharmacokinetics. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the AzC-ZnONPs was demonstrated on A-549 adenocarcinoma cell line. Our findings from physiochemical investigations suggested that the chymotrypsin coated AzC conjugated ZnONPs could be used as the novel nanoconjugates for various cancer phototherapies.

Engineering Dental Tissues Using Biomaterials with Piezoelectric Effect: Current Progress and Future Perspectives

Dental caries and traumatic injuries to teeth may cause irreversible inflammation and eventual death of the dental pulp. Nevertheless, predictably, repair and regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex remain a formidable challenge. In recent years, smart multifunctional materials with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and pro-regenerative properties have emerged as promising approaches to meet this critical clinical need. As a unique class of smart materials, piezoelectric materials have an unprecedented advantage over other stimuli-responsive materials due to their inherent capability to generate electric charges, which have been shown to facilitate both antimicrobial action and tissue regeneration. Nonetheless, studies on piezoelectric biomaterials in the repair and regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex remain limited. In this review, we summarize the biomedical applications of piezoelectric biomaterials in dental applications and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to the biological effect of piezoelectricity. Moreover, we highlight how this state-of-the-art can be further exploited in the future for dental tissue engineering.

Recent Trends and Developments in Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Cancer Theranostics

Conventional anticancer treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, have significantly improved cancer therapy. Nevertheless, the existing traditional anticancer treatments have been reported to cause serious side effects and resistance to cancer and even to severely affect the quality of life of cancer survivors, which indicates the utmost urgency to develop effective and safe anticancer treatments. As the primary focus of cancer nanotheranostics, nanomaterials with unique surface chemistry and shape have been investigated for integrating cancer diagnostics with treatment techniques, including guiding a prompt diagnosis, precise imaging, treatment with an effective dose, and real-time supervision of therapeutic efficacy. Several theranostic nanosystems have been explored for cancer diagnosis and treatment in the past decade. However, metal-based nanotheranostics continue to be the most common types of nonentities. Consequently, the present review covers the physical characteristics of effective metallic, functionalized, and hybrid nanotheranostic systems. The scope of coverage also includes the clinical advantages and limitations of cancer nanotheranostics. In light of these viewpoints, future research directions exploring the robustness and clinical viability of cancer nanotheranostics through various strategies to enhance the biocompatibility of theranostic nanoparticles are summarised.

Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Cananga odorata essential oil and its antibacterial efficacy in vitro and in vivo

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructure exhibits antimicrobial properties, which have prompted more research on their bactericidal effect against foodborne pathogens. The present work focused on the green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using Cananga odorata essential oil. The synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by XRD, UV-Vis spectroscopy, zeta potential, SEM, and FT-IR analysis. The bactericidal activity of biosynthesized ZnO NPs was tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The in vitro results indicate that ZnO NPs have excellent antibacterial activity and that the bactericidal and bacteriostatic mechanisms are based on ROS production and depend on its penetration and interaction with bacterial cells. Moreover, ZnO NPs were found to be non-toxic to Caenorhabditis elegans, an in vivo animal model, up to 1 g/L and exert antibacterial activity by reducing the growth and colonization of pathogens. By reducing pathogen virulence, ZnO NPs significantly improved worms' physiological functions such as pharyngeal pumping, body length, reproduction, and movement. The competitive effect of ZnO NPs against pathogenic bacteria increased the gut-barrier integrity of C. elegans. The most interesting observation was noted that ZnO treatment increased the mean survival rate of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus infected C. elegans by 56.6 % and 62.4 %, respectively. As an outcome, our study proved that green synthesized ZnO NPs exhibit remarkable biological properties and can be used as an efficient bactericidal agent against foodborne pathogens.

Nanotechnological engineering of extracellular vesicles for the development of actively targeted hybrid nanodevices

Background

We propose an efficient method to modify B-cell derived EVs by loading them with a nanotherapeutic stimuli-responsive cargo and equipping them with antibodies for efficient targeting of lymphoma cells.

Results

The post-isolation engineering of the EVs is accomplished by a freeze–thaw method to load therapeutically-active zinc oxide nanocrystals (ZnO NCs), obtaining the so-called TrojanNanoHorse (TNH) to recall the biomimetism and cytotoxic potential of this novel nanoconstruct. TNHs are further modified at their surface with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (TNH^CD20) achieving specific targeting against lymphoid cancer cell line. The in vitro characterization is carried out on CD20+ lymphoid Daudi cell line, CD20-negative cancerous myeloid cells (HL60) and the healthy counterpart (B lymphocytes). The TNH shows nanosized structure, high colloidal stability, even over time, and good hemocompatibility. The in vitro characterization shows the high biocompatibility, targeting specificity and cytotoxic capability. Importantly, the selectivity of TNH^CD20 demonstrates significantly higher interaction towards the target lymphoid Daudi cell line compared to the CD20-negative cancerous myeloid cells (HL60) and the healthy counterpart (lymphocytes). An enhanced cytotoxicity directed against Daudi cancer cells is demonstrated after the TNH^CD20 activation with high-energy ultrasound shock-waves (SW).

Conclusion

This work demonstrates the efficient re-engineering of EVs, derived from healthy cells, with inorganic nanoparticles and monoclonal antibodies. The obtained hybrid nanoconstructs can be on-demand activated by an external stimulation, here acoustic pressure waves, to exploit a cytotoxic effect conveyed by the ZnO NCs cargo against selected cancer cells.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-022-00784-9.

Comparison of subcutaneous inflammatory response induced by elastomeric orthodontic ligatures coated with silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles with control group on rats

Background

Silver and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have recently become common to coat ligatures in order to take advantage of positive properties of nanoparticles, although there are concerns about their cytotoxicity. This study tended to compare subcutaneous inflammatory response induced by elastomeric orthodontic ligatures coated with silver and ZnO nanoparticles with a control group in rats.

Materials and Methods

In this in vitro and animal cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction of silver nitrate solution in the presence of sodium borohydride and ZnO nanoparticles by the same method and by chemical reduction of zinc sulfate solution with sodium hydroxide and were coated on elastomeric ligatures. Subcutaneous inflammation degrees were assessed after 15 and 30 days and were compared in the groups by Kruskal-Wallis test and ordinal generalized estimation equation with exchangeable correlation matrix. All tests were performed with a significance level (P = 0.05).

Results

There was a significant difference in terms of degrees of inflammation in the groups coated with ZnO nanoparticles (P = 0.003) and silver nanoparticles (P = 0.04) compared to the control group in 15- and 30-day samples. Zinc nanoparticles caused 3.22 times more inflammation than silver nanoparticles (P = 0.053). The decrease in inflammation was significant over time in all groups (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

There was a significant more inflammation in the groups receiving ZnO and silver nanoparticles compared to the control group in 15- and 30-day samples. Silver nanoparticles are probably safer than zinc nanoparticles for tissue and a better material to choose for antibacterial effects.

Investigating the Antibacterial Activity and Safety of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles versus a Commercial Alcohol-Based Hand-Sanitizer: Can Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Be Useful for Hand Sanitation?

Hand hygiene is the key factor to control and prevent the spread of infections, for example, hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). People commonly use alcohol-based hand sanitizers to assure hand hygiene. However, frequent use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in a pandemic situation (e.g., COVID-19) was associated with serious drawbacks such as skin toxicity including irritation, skin dermatitis, and skin dryness or cracking, along with peeling, redness, or itching with higher possibility of infection. This demands the development of alternative novel products that are effective as alcohol-based hand sanitizers but have no hazardous effects. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are known to have broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, be compatible with the biological system and the environment, and have applicable and economic industrial-scale production. Thus, ZnO-NPs might be a good candidate for hand sanitation. To the best of our knowledge, the antibacterial activity of ZnO-NPs in comparison to alcohol-based hand sanitizers has not yet been studied. In the present work, a comparative study of the antibacterial activity of ZnO-NPs vs. Sterillium, a commercial alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is commonly used in Egyptian hospitals, was performed against common microorganisms known to cause HAIs in Egypt, including Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Staphylococcus aureus. The safety profiles of ZnO-NPs and Sterillium were also assessed. The obtained results demonstrated the superior antibacterial activity and safety of ZnO-NPs compared to Sterillium. Therefore, ZnO-NPs could be a promising candidate for hand sanitation in comparison to alcohol-based hand sanitizers; however, several studies related to long-term toxicity and stability of ZnO-NPs and investigations into their antimicrobial activity and safety in healthcare settings are still required in the future to ascertain their antimicrobial activity and safety.