Search Results (52)

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains the most aggressive primary brain tumor with median survival of 14.6 months, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches. Here, we report the biogenic synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using Bacillus licheniformis strain TT14s isolated from mining environments and demonstrate their selective anti-glioma efficacy. ZnO NPs exhibited hexagonal wurtzite structure (crystallite size: 15.48 nm) with spherical morphology (19.37 ± 5.28 nm diameter) as confirmed by XRD, HRTEM, and comprehensive physicochemical characterization. Colloidal stability analysis revealed an isoelectric point at pH 7.46, ensuring optimal dispersion in biological media. Cytotoxicity evaluation revealed remarkable selectivity: at 100 μg/mL, ZnO NPs reduced NG-108 glioblastoma cell viability to 36.07 ± 1.89% within 1 h while maintaining 78.9 ± 0.94% viability in primary retinal cells. The selective cytotoxicity was attributed to the interplay of convergent mechanisms acting under dark conditions, including defect-mediated ROS generation supported by photoluminescence analysis revealing a characteristic oxygen vacancy emission at 550 nm, pH-dependent dissolution enhanced in the acidic tumor microenvironment, and preferential cellular uptake by rapidly proliferating cancer cells with compromised antioxidant defenses. Time-course analysis demonstrated concentration-dependent effects with therapeutic windows favoring normal cell preservation. The intrinsic cytotoxic activity under dark laboratory conditions eliminates the need for external activation, providing practical advantages for therapeutic applications. These findings establish ZnO NPs as promising candidates for targeted glioblastoma therapy, warranting further in vivo validation and mechanistic elucidation for clinical translation. Full article

This study explores a green synthesis approach for creating a nanocomposite material consisting of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles decorated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO), utilizing Clitoria ternatea flower extract as a biogenic reducing agent. The objective was to leverage the phytochemicals present in the flower extract to form ZnO nanoparticles, enhance their properties through rGO integration, and evaluate their structural and photocatalytic characteristics. The nanocomposite was characterized using a comprehensive suite of techniques, including XRD, FTIR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, DLS, zeta potential, SEM, and EDAX. To assess the in vitro biocompatibility, an MTT assay was performed on the normal fibroblast cell line 3T3L1. The nanocomposite exhibited minimal cytotoxicity with over 86% cell viability at concentrations up to 320 μg/mL. Additionally, hemolysis assays demonstrated that the nanocomposite induced less than 5% hemolysis, indicating excellent hemocompatibility. In an in vivo evaluation, zebrafish embryos exhibited no deformities, and the cumulative hatchability was also not affected up to a dose of 50 μg/mL. The exploration of environmental remediation was studied using bromophenol dye degradation, which showed a 65% dye degradation within 30 min of exposure to the composite and sunlight. The outcome of the study showed successful formation of ZnO and its composite with rGO (CT-rGO-ZnO), exhibiting excellent biocompatibility and improved photocatalytic properties. The material demonstrates promise for applications in environmental remediation and energy-related fields. The environmentally friendly nature of the synthesis approach also makes it a valuable contribution toward sustainable nanotechnology. Full article

The control of bacterial plant diseases is very challenging and often relies on the application of copper compounds, although the frequent emergence and spread of resistant bacterial strains compromise their efficacy. Additionally, copper-based compounds raise environmental and human health concerns, leading to their inclusion in the European Commission’s list of candidates for substitution. As a promising and sustainable alternative, we investigated the efficacy of biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in protecting tomato plants against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst), the causal agent of bacterial speck disease. ZnO-NPs exhibited significant in vitro antibacterial activity (EC₉₅ = 17.0 ± 1.1 ppm) against the pathogen. Furthermore, when applied to the foliage of tomato plants at 100 ppm before or following Pst inoculation, they induced significant reductions in symptom severity and bacterial growth in planta, which were comparable to those shown by plants treated with acibenzolar-S-methyl, a plant defense inducer. Gene expression assessed by qPCR revealed the involvement of the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) pathway in tomato plants treated with ZnO-NPs before inoculation, suggesting that the observed protection could be due to a priming effect. Finally, infected plants showed oxidative stress, with higher H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. ZnO-NPs reverted this effect, containing the content of the above molecules, and stimulated the production of metabolites involved in dealing with oxidative perturbations (carotenoids and phenols), while unaffecting flavonoids and anthocyanins. Full article

This study presents a sustainable and scalable biosynthesis method for zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using Bacillus subtilis, focusing on their application in photocatalytic cyanide degradation in aqueous solutions. The bacterial strain was molecularly identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The optimized biosynthesis process yielded crystalline ZnO nanoparticles in the zincite phase with an average size of 21.87 ± 5.84 nm and a specific surface area of 27.02 ± 0.13 m²/g. Comprehensive characterization confirmed the formation of high-purity hexagonal ZnO (space group P63mc) with a bandgap of 3.20 eV. Photocatalytic tests under UV irradiation demonstrated efficient concentration-dependent cyanide degradation, achieving 75.5% removal at 100 ppm and 65.8% at 500 ppm within 180 min using 1.0 g/L ZnO loading. The degradation kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order model with rate constants ranging from 6.64 × 10⁻³ to 3.98 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹. The enhanced photocatalytic performance is attributed to the optimal crystallite size, high surface area, and surface defects identified through a microscopic analysis. These results establish biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles as promising eco-friendly photocatalysts for industrial wastewater treatment. Full article

Sustainable and eco-friendly synthesis methods for nanoparticles are crucial for advancing green nanotechnology. This study presents the biogenic synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles using ovalbumin, an abundant and non-toxic protein from egg white. The synthesis process was optimized by varying metal ion concentrations to control particle size and morphology. Characterization using ATR-FTIR, XRD, SEM, and UV-VIS confirmed the successful formation of uniform, well-crystallized nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 7.9 to 13.5 nm. ZnO nanoparticles exhibited superior antimicrobial efficacy against Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, while MgO nanoparticles showed enhanced potential environmental remediation. These findings highlight ovalbumin as a versatile agent for the green synthesis of ZnO and MgO nanomaterials, with promising applications in the medical, environmental, and optoelectronic fields. The results indicate that this biogenic method can serve as a sustainable proposal to produce nanostructured materials with diverse applications in the medical and environmental fields, such as eliminating pathogenic bacteria and purifying contaminated environments. Overall, this study significantly contributes to the development of sustainable nanomaterials and opens up new perspectives on the use of ovalbumin protein in the synthesis of multifunctional nanostructured materials. Full article

Agricultural growers worldwide face significant challenges in promoting plant growth. This research introduces a green strategy utilizing nanomaterials to enhance crop production. While high concentrations of nanomaterials are known to be hazardous to plants, this study demonstrates that low doses of biologically synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) can serve as an effective regulatory tool to boost plant growth. These nanoparticles were produced using Nigella sativa seed extract and characterized through UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antifungal properties of ZnO NPs were evaluated against Cercospora canescens, the causative agent of Cercospora leaf spot in mung bean. Application of ZnO NPs significantly improved plant metrics, including shoot, root, pod, leaf, and root nodule counts, as well as plant length, fresh weight, and dry weight—all indicators of healthy growth. Moreover, low-dose ZnO NPs positively influenced enzymatic activity, physicochemical properties, and photosynthetic parameters. These findings suggest that biologically synthesized ZnO NPs offer a promising approach for enhancing crop yield and accelerating plant growth. Full article

This study investigated the potential of biogenic ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) to alleviate cadmium (Cd) toxicity in durum wheat plants exposed for 14 days to 25 μM CdSO₄. By applying ZnO-NPs at two different concentrations (25 and 50 mg L⁻¹), we observed increased chlorophyll content, beneficially impacting the photosynthetic efficiency, and enhanced sulfur, zinc, and iron accumulation. Moreover, the ZnO-NP treatment reduced the Cd accumulation in shoots, mitigating leaf chlorosis and oxidative damage. This response was clearly mediated by the increased thiol and phytochelatin production, as well as the enhanced sulfate uptake rate, with TdSultr1.3 as the most responsive gene coding for high-affinity transporter to Cd stress. In conclusion, the application of biogenic ZnO-NPs appears to be a promising approach for reducing the uptake of heavy metals by plants. In addition, it could be successfully used in combination with contamination prevention measures and/or remediation of contaminated sites to remove and mitigate the harmful effects of Cd on the environment and human health. Full article

Nanotechnology offers promising applications in agriculture by enhancing crop growth, yield, and antioxidant defenses. This study is the first to evaluate the effect of biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the in vitro growth of two blueberry cultivars, Brigitta and Duke. The ZnO-NPs were synthesized biogenically using an extract of Lemna minor L., which is a free-floating aquatic plant, as a capping and modulating agent, and were added to the plant’s growth media at different dosages (0, 2, 6, and 18 mg L−¹). The ZnO-NPs significantly increased the shoot number, fresh biomass, and dry weight in both cultivars without affecting shoot vitality, length, or basal callus formation. Moreover, the increases in carotenoids in both cultivars, as well as chlorophyll and and soluble proteins in the ‘Brigitta’ cultivar, confirm the prompted benefits and possibly evidence genotype-specific metabolic adaptations in response to ZnO-NPs. These results demonstrate that biogenic ZnO-NPs can effectively promote the in vitro growth of blueberry explants, offering improvements in micropropagation efficiency. Full article

Nanotechnology has gained popularity in recent years due to its wide-ranging applications within the scientific community. The three main methods for synthesizing nanoparticles are physical, chemical, and biological. However, the adverse effects associated with physical and chemical methods have led to a growing interest in biological methods. Interestingly, green synthesis using plants has gained prominence in developing new treatments for bacterial infections. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) produced using environmentally friendly methods are more biocompatible and have potential applications as antibacterial agents in the biomedical field. As a result, this review discusses the green synthesis of ZnO NPs, factors influencing optimal synthesis, characterization techniques, and the antibacterial activity of some plant-mediated ZnO NPs. It also provides a comprehensive and analytical exploration of ZnO NP biosynthesis, the role of phytochemical compounds as reducing and stabilizing agents, the mechanism of action of their antibacterial properties and further highlights the challenges and prospects in this innovative research area. Full article

The synthesis of nanoparticles utilizing green techniques is becoming increasingly important due to its low cost, biocompatibility, high productivity, and eco-friendliness. Herein, the current work focused on the biosynthesis, characterization, and biological applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) from Anabasis articulata, including antioxidant anticancer and larvicidal properties, as well as modifications to the phytochemical ingredients. Hence, the tannin, phenolic, and flavonoid concentrations of the produced nanoparticle samples were lower than those of the original aqueous extract. When compared to the results of ascorbic acid (12.78 mg/mL), the produced extract of A. articulata and its zinc nanoparticles showed remarkable efficacy as antioxidant agents with IC₅₀ values of 27.48 and 69.53 mg/mL, respectively. A normal lung fibroblast cell line (WI-38) and three tumor cells were used to test the compounds’ anticancer properties. With an IC₅₀ of 21.19 µg/mL, the ZnO-NPs of A. articulata showed the greatest cytotoxicity against HePG-2 cell lines. Additionally, A. articulata zinc nanoparticles showed significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and PC3 tumor cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 30.91 and 49.32 µg/mL. The biogenic ZnO-NPs had LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of 13.64 and 26.23 mg/L, respectively, and are very effective against Aedes aegypti larval instar (III). Additionally, the percentages of larval mortality increased from 28.61% at 5 ppm to 84.69% at 25 ppm after 24 h post-treatment. The overall results of this study point to the potential of A. articulata as a substitute biological agent for potential therapeutic/leutic uses in the medical domains and for preventing the proliferation of malarial vector insects. Full article

Microbial synthesis offers a sustainable and eco-friendly approach for nanoparticle production. This study explores the biogenic synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) utilizing the actinomycete Saccharopolyspora hirsuta (Ess_amA6) isolated from Tapinoma simrothi. The biosynthesized ZnO-NPs were characterized using various techniques to confirm their formation and properties. UV–visible spectroscopy revealed a characteristic peak at 372 nm, indicative of ZnO-NPs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystalline structure of the ZnO-NPs as hexagonal wurtzite with a crystallite size of approximately 37.5 ± 13.60 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed the presence of both spherical and roughly hexagonal ZnO nanoparticles in an agglomerated state with a diameter of approximately 44 nm. The biogenic ZnO-NPs exhibited promising biomedical potential. They demonstrated selective cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines, demonstrating higher efficacy against Hep-2 cells (IC50 = 73.01 µg/mL) compared to MCF-7 cells (IC50 = 112.74 µg/mL). Furthermore, the biosynthesized ZnO-NPs displayed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus with clear zones of inhibition of 12.67 mm and 14.33 mm, respectively. The MIC and MBC values against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus ranged between 12.5 and 50 µg/mL. These findings suggest the potential of S. hirsuta-mediated ZnO-NPs as promising biocompatible nanomaterials with dual applications as antimicrobial and anticancer agents. Full article

This study reported the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using Cucurbita pepo L. seed extract and explored their multifunctional properties such as anti-corrosion, photocatalytic, and adsorption capabilities. The synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify their functional groups, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to assess their thermal stability, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) to determine their size, morphology, and elemental composition. The characterization of biofabricated ZnO NPs revealed an average particle size of 32.88 nm; however, SEM displayed a tendency for the particles to agglomerate. Furthermore, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and EDX analysis confirmed the NPs as ZnO, matching patterns reported in the literature. In this study, the potential of the biogenic ZnO NPs was explored for multifunctional applications. Zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited a higher capacity for adsorbing hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) compared to bulk zinc oxide, mostly because of their larger surface area. In addition, electrochemical studies demonstrated a substantial enhancement in the corrosion resistance of mild steel in a 1.0 M HCl solution. ZnO NPs also demonstrated remarkable photodegradation effectiveness, reducing 75% of methyl orange in 60 min under sun-light irradiation. This implies that they could be used to remediate organic pollutants (organic dyes) from wastewater. Full article

Biogenic synthesis using medicinal plants has less harmful effects as compared to the chemical synthesis of nanoparticles. Here, for the first time, we successfully demonstrated the eco-friendly synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using an aqueous extract of Cissus antractica. The green synthesis method offers great potential for developing new medications that enhance drug bioavailability. The current work highlighted the cytotoxicity, cell death, and routes of apoptosis in lung cancer cells (A549) and inflammatory effects through synthesizing zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) from the Cissus antractica plant using an eco-friendly methodology. UV–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were also used to characterize the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. The average size of the NPs was 100 nm, and the NPs were crystalline in nature, as confirmed by FE-TEM and XRD analysis, respectively. In addition, the morphology of the nanoparticles analyzed by FE-TEM showed a spherical shape. The cell viability assay indicated that CA-ZnO NPs are non-toxic to normal cell lines at concentrations up to 20 µg/mL but showed significant toxicity in the A549 cell line. The nanoformulation also increased the ROS generation level in A549 lung cancer cells, and cellular apoptosis was confirmed via Hoechst and PI staining. The CA-ZnO NPs showed significant colony inhibition as well as cell migration ability that highlighted the CA-ZnO NPs as an anticancer agent. Additionally, this study demonstrated that NPs reduced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhanced the expression of genes for BAX accumulation by releasing Cyto-c, but decreased Bcl-2 gene expression via the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effect was also investigated; the CA-ZnO NPs showed significant NO inhibition ability with suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, IL-8). In conclusion, Cissus antractica can be a source of significant Nano drugs with more advanced research in order to develop future anti-inflammatory and anticancer medications. Full article

Zinc oxide nanoparticles have high levels of biocompatibility, a low impact on environmental contamination, and suitable to be used as an ingredient for environmentally friendly skincare products. In this study, biogenically synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles using Dendrobium anosum are used as a reducing and capping agent for topical anti-acne nanogels, and the antimicrobial effect of the nanogel is assessed on Cutibacterium acne and Staphylococcus aureus. Dendrobium anosmum leaf extract was examined for the presence of secondary metabolites and its total amount of phenolic and flavonoid content was determined. Both the biogenically and chemogenic-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles were compared using UV-Visible spectrophotometer, FE-SEM, XRD, and FTIR. To produce the topical nanogel, the biogenic and chemogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles were mixed with a carbomer and hydroxypropyl-methyl cellulose (HPMC) polymer. The mixtures were then tested for physical and chemical characteristics. To assess their anti-acne effectiveness, the mixtures were tested against C. acne and S. aureus. The biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles have particle sizes of 20 nm and a high-phase purity. In comparison to chemogenic nanoparticles, the hydrogels with biogenically synthesized nanoparticles was more effective against Gram-positive bacteria. Through this study, the hybrid nanogels was proven to be effective against the microbes that cause acne and to be potentially used as a green product against skin infections. Full article

Nanotechnology holds significant ameliorative potential against neurodegenerative diseases, as it can protect the therapeutic substance and allow for its sustained release. In this study, the reducing and capping agents of Urtica dioica (UD), Matricaria chamomilla (MC), and Murraya koenigii (MK) extracts were used to synthesize bio-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) against bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and against rotenone-induced toxicities in D. melanogaster for the first time. Their optical and structural properties were analyzed via FT-IR, DLS, XRD, EDS, SEM, UV–Vis, and zeta potential. The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the fabricated ZnO-NPs were evaluated employing cell-free models (DPPH and ABTS) and the well diffusion method, respectively. Rotenone (500 µM) was administered to Drosophila third instar larvae and freshly emerged flies for 24–120 h, either alone or in combination with plant extracts (UD, MC, an MK) and their biogenic ZnO-NPs. A comparative study on the protective effects of synthesized NPs was undertaken against rotenone-induced neurotoxic, cytotoxic, and behavioral alterations using an acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay, dye exclusion test, and locomotor parameters. The findings revealed that among the plant-derived ZnO-NPs, MK-ZnO NPs exhibit strong antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, followed by UD-ZnO NPs and MC-ZnO NPs. In this regard, ethno-nano medicinal therapeutic uses mimic similar effects in D. melanogaster by suppressing oxidative stress by restoring biochemical parameters (AchE and proteotoxicity activity) and lower cellular toxicity. These findings suggest that green-engineered ZnO-NPs have the potential to significantly enhance outcomes, with the promise of effective therapies for neurodegeneration, and could be used as a great alternative for clinical development. Full article