Zinc oxide nanoparticles: potential novel applications in cellular physiology, pathology, neurosciences and cancer research

Abstract

Abstract With the rapid development of nanotechnology during the past several years, attention has been focused on metallic nanomaterials, due to their specific physical and chemical characteristics. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have numerous potential applications in industry, as a part of various consumer products, but also in medical research. Anticancer properties of ZnO NPs have been suggested in cell cultures, however, the precise mechanism responsible for their activity in these conditions remains elusive. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of ZnO NPs are also unclear. Apart from cancer research, ZnO NPs are today widely researched in almost all areas of fundamental medicine. In this short review, we discuss recently published articles on ZnO NPs applications in cellular physiology, pathology, neurosciences and oncology.