The efficacy of ZnO-NPs prepared via green route against colon and breast cancer cells

Abstract

AbstractThis study is an attempt to utilize green tea [GT] extract and pomegranate peel [PP] for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles. The selected plants are rich in phenols therefore are awaited to successfully synthesize ZnO nanoparticles without the need for an alkylating agent. In addition, these extracts contain various functional groups that confer colloidal stability for nanoparticles and ameliorate their biocompatibility via a one pot synthesis route. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques are used to investigate both structural and morphological properties of the obtained nanoparticles [Zn-GT and Zn-PP]. To confirm the presence of functional groups adsorbed on the surface of biogenic-NPs, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed. The outcomes demonstrated that only the use of green tea extract was successful in synthesizing zinc oxide from the zinc acetate dihydrate precursor, producing particles with an average size of approximately 25 nm. Anticancer activity and cytotoxicity of the biosynthesized Zn-GT nanoparticles were assessed against human breast cancer [MCF7] and colorectal carcinoma [HCT116] cell lines. The cytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles is presented with reference to normal skin [BJ1] cell line subjected to similar concentrations of the NPs. The obtained results verified a discriminative inhibition of both MCF7 and HCT116 cancer cell growth upon using Zn-GT, which completely succeeded in preventing cancer cell growth.