Comparison Study of Cytotoxicity of Bare and Functionalized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

In this paper, a study of the cytotoxicity of bare and functionalized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) is presented. The functionalized ZnO NPs were obtained by various types of biological methods including microbiological (intra- and extracellular with Lactobacillus paracasei strain), phytochemical (Medicago sativa plant extract) and biochemical (ovalbumin from egg white protein) synthesis. As a control, the bare ZnO NPs gained by chemical synthesis (commercially available) were tested. The cytotoxicity was measured through the use of (3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) dye as well as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays against murine fibroblast L929 and Caco-2 cell lines. As a complementary method, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to assess the morphology of the tested cells after treatment with ZnO NPs. The microscopic data confirmed the occurrence of apoptotic blebbing and loss of membrane permeability after the administration of all ZnO NPs. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration during the cell lines’ exposure to ZnO NPs was measured fluorometrically. Additionally, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye in the different light conditions, as well as the antioxidant activity of bare and functionalized ZnO NPs, is also reported. The addition of all types of tested ZnO NPs to methylene blue resulted in enhanced rates of photo-degradation in the presence of both types of irradiation, but the application of UV light resulted in higher photocatalytic activity of ZnO NPs. Furthermore, bare (chemically synthetized) NPs have been recognized as the strongest photocatalysts. In the context of the obtained results, a mechanism underlying the toxicity of bio-ZnO NPs, including (a) the generation of reactive oxygen species and (b) the induction of apoptosis, is proposed.

Comprehensive study upon physicochemical properties of (bio)ZnO NPs

“…Then, the chemical nanoparticles might be considered as a better and more e cient photocatalyst, compared to the biologically synthetized ZnO NPs. Comparable data were collected in our previous work 29 where the chemical ZnO NPs exhibited stronger photocatalytic activity toward MB dye at sunlight and UV irradiation. The differences between nanoparticles photocatalytic action might be strongly associated with their size, stability and their surface organic deposition.…”

“…All tested ZnO NPs (at 1000 µg/mL concentration) were implemented as a photocatalysts toward methylene blue (MB) degradation under sunlight irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of CHEM, 1C and 4a_ZnO NPs were evaluated according to the previously described protocol 29 . The process were carried out in time intervals ( 114) and (212) Bragg re ections, respectively 30 .…”

Biological and Non-Conventional Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs): Their Potential Applications

“…The accumulation and removal of Zn from ZnO-NPs in blackfish (Capoeta fusca) is dependent on tissue, exposure concentration, and time, as well as graphene nanosheets (GN) [111]. Furthermore, chemically synthetized ZnO-NPs have been recognized as the strongest photocatalysts [112]. Recent studies have revealed that nanomaterials containing zinc, in particular zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), are becoming increasingly desirable as innovative agents for medical applications, even though the significance of zinc as a trace element in the human body has been overlooked for a long time.…”

Antimicrobial Perspectives of Active SiO2FexOy/ZnO Composites

“…Anna Król-Górniak et al explain how ZnO-doped materials exhibits much lower cytotoxicity in in vitro studies [ 26 ]. Other studies show that, although zinc-based materials can present beneficial properties, under certain conditions it must be taken into account that zinc is a risk element for the body.…”