Potential of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles as an Anticancer Agent: A Review

Abstract

According to reports, one of the leading causes of mortality is cancer. Over the years, numerous approaches have been devised to lessen chronic pain and death as well as to elevate the quality of life. However, a scarcity persists in the effectiveness of cancer treatments. Early cancer identification and medication delivery with excellent specificity to reduce toxicities are two critical elements in ensuring effective cancer treatment. As a result of severe systemic toxicities and issues with current cancer diagnostic and treatment procedures, alternative nanotechnology-based techniques are being employed to improve detection and minimize disease severity. Nanotechnology has shown promising breakthroughs in cancer therapy by eliminating tumours with minimal damage to surrounding healthy cells. Since zinc is one of the necessary trace elements found in large amounts in human body tissues, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are said to be the most cost-effective and have the least hazardous characteristics of all metal oxide nanoparticles. In addition, ZnO NPs have several biological uses, notably in the field of drug administration. In this review, we tried to explore the advantage of ZnO NPs in the biomedical field, particularly in the treatment of cancer which can help to facilitate future research progress.

Fabrication, Characterization and In Vitro Cell Cytotoxicity of ZnO Nanoparticles on MDA‐MB 231 Breast Cancer Cell Line

“…Due to their size and surface characterictics, scientists are expecting enhancement in permeability and retention of drugs in cancer tissues with extended drugs half-life and improvement in drug targetting, particularly for metallic nanoparticles. [3] Syntheses of nanoparticles are categorised into two approaches; top-down and bottom-up. Top-down approach refers to the conversion of bulk or large materials into smaller units which eventually conformed to nano-sized particles, while bottom-up approach refers to the assembly of nanoparticle building blocks such as atoms and molecules.…”

“…The discovery of nanoparticles brings new light to the treatment of breast cancer. Due to their size and surface characterictics, scientists are expecting enhancement in permeability and retention of drugs in cancer tissues with extended drugs half‐life and improvement in drug targetting, particularly for metallic nanoparticles [3] …”