Bioengineered Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Anti-Oxidant Applications

Abstract

Zinc oxide nanoparticles find its versatile application in medicine and industry when compared with other metal nanoparticles. The present study focuses on biogenic synthesis of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using lemon juice extract. Lemon juice extracts contains natural alkaloids and flavonoids which acts as reducing agent for the synthesis of nanoparticles. The synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticle is characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and FTIR. FTIR results showed the presence of functional groups which represents ZnONPs and reducing groups responsible for the reduction. The SEM observation reveals the synthesized ZnONPs are cube shaped. The obtained nanoparticle was further studied for toxicity using zebrafish embryos. Toxicity results suggested that the toxicity is dose dependent. Malformations in the embryos such as yolk sac edema and twisted tail were seen in higher concentrations. The antioxidant activity of the synthesized ZnONPs was carried out using DPPH assay. Results implied that the antioxidant activity was also concentration dependent.