Bioactive properties of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using Cocos nucifera leaves.

Biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles has been reported using Cocos nucifera leaf (CNL) extract along with estimation of their antimicrobial potential before and after calcination using different micro-organisms. UV-visible spectra of ZnO nanoparticles showed absorption maxima at 383 nm and 363 nm, respectively, with 3.237 eV and 3.416 eV, respectively, as the corresponding band gap energies. FESEM and TEM images showed spherical morphologies of ZnO nanoparticles within the size range 109-215 nm. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of hexagonal wurtzite structures. ATR-IR spectra revealed the presence of stretching vibrations of N-H, O-H, C=C, C=O and NH2 groups along with C-H and N-H deformation involving biomolecules from CNL extract responsible for reduction and stabilization of ZnO nanoparticles. Uncalcinated ZnO nanoparticles displayed antibacterial activities only against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa whereas calcinated ZnO nanoparticles did not show antibacterial activities against E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis. ZnO nanoparticles were not active against Penicillium spp., Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus flavus, Rhizoctonia solani as well as HCT-116 cancer cells before as well as after calcination. Antimicrobial nature and biocompatibility of ZnO nanoparticles were influenced by different parameters of the nanoparticles along with micro-organisms and the human cells. Non-antimicrobial properties of ZnO nanoparticles can be treated as a pre-requisite for its biocompatibility due to its inert nature. These ZnO nanoparticles can serve a dual purpose by facilitating use as antibacterial agent against susceptible micro-organisms as well as a biocompatible carrier molecule in drug delivery applications. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-022-03110-9.

Non-antimicrobial and Non-anticancer Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles Biosynthesized Using Different Plant Parts of Bixa orellana.

As traditional cancer therapy is toxic to both normal and cancer cells, there is a need for newer approaches to specifically target cancer cells. ZnO nanoparticles can be promising due their biocompatible nature. However, ZnO nanoparticles have also shown cytotoxicity against mammalian cells in some cases, because of which there is a need for newer synthesis approaches for biocompatible ZnO nanoparticles to be used as carrier molecules in drug delivery applications. Here, we report the biosynthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using different plant parts (leaf, seed, and seed coat) of Bixa orellana followed by different characterizations. The UV-visible spectra of ZnO showed absorption maxima at 341 and 353 nm, 378 and 373 nm, and 327 and 337 nm, respectively, before and after calcination corresponding to the band gap energy of 3.636 and 3.513 eV, 3.280 and 3.324 eV, and 3.792 and 3.679 eV for L-ZnO, S-ZnO, and Sc-ZnO, respectively. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of hexagonal wurtzite structures. Attenuated total reflectance infrared spectra revealed the presence of stretching vibrations of C-C, C=C, C=O, and NH3 + groups along with C-H deformation involving biomolecules from extracts responsible for reduction and stabilization of nanoparticles. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images showed spherical and almond-like morphologies of L-ZnO and Sc-ZnO with spherical morphologies, whereas S-ZnO showed almond-like morphologies. The presence of antibacterial activity was observed in L-ZnO against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, in S-ZnO nanoparticles only against Escherichia coli, and in Sc-ZnO only against Staphylococcus aureus. Uncalcinated ZnO nanoparticles showed weak antibacterial activities, whereas calcinated ZnO nanoparticles showed a non-antibacterial nature. The antifungal activity against different fungi (Penicillium sp., Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizoctonia solani) and cytotoxicity against HCT-116 cancer cells were not observed before and after calcination in all three ZnO nanoparticles. The antimicrobial nature and biocompatibility of ZnO nanoparticles were influenced by different parameters of the nanoparticles along with microorganisms and the human cells. Non-antimicrobial properties of ZnO nanoparticles can be treated as a pre-requisite for its biocompatibility due to its inert nature. Thus, biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles showed a nontoxic nature, which can be exploited as promising alternatives in biomedical applications.

Use of nanotechnology in combating coronavirus.

Recent COVID-19 pandemic situation caused due to the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) affected global health as well as economics. There is global attention on prevention, diagnosis as well as treatment of COVID-19 infection which would help in easing the current situation. The use of nanotechnology and nanomedicine has been considered to be promising due to its excellent potential in managing various medical issues such as viruses which is a major threat. Nanoparticles have shown great potential in various biomedical applications and can prove to be of great use in antiviral therapy, especially over other conventional antiviral agents. This review focusses on the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 and the progression of the COVID-19 disease followed by currently available treatments for the same. Use of nanotechnology has been elaborated by exploiting various nanoparticles like metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon-based nanoparticles, quantum dots, polymeric nanoparticles as well as lipid-based nanoparticles along with its mechanism of action against viruses which can prove to be beneficial in COVID-19 therapeutics. However, it needs to be considered that use of these nanotechnology-based approaches in COVID-19 therapeutics only aids the human immunity in fighting the infection. The main function is performed by the immune system in combatting any infection.

Non-Antibacterial and Antibacterial ZnO Nanoparticles Composed of Different Surfactants.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using different surfactants such as SDS, CTAB, Triton X-100, PVP K-30 and ethylene glycol. ZnO NPs were tested for antibacterial activity before and after calcination against different micro-organisms like E. coli and P. aeruginosa (Gram negative) as well as S. aureus and B. subtilis (Gram positive). Antibacterial activity was observed in SDScapped ZnO NPs only against B. subtilis. Antibacterial activity of ZnO-capped SDS was tested in a concentration range 0.625-10 mg/mL. Increased antibacterial activity was observed before calcination as compared to after calcination. Minimum concentration at which uncalcinated as well as calcinated SDS-capped ZnO NPs show antibacterial activity is 2.5 mg/mL and 5 mg/mL respectively. Non-antibacterial nature of ZnO NPs highlights its further use in drug delivery due to its inert nature, enhanced efficacy in association with therapeutic drugs as well as easy disposal.

Antibacterial Activities of Biosynthesized ZnO Nanoparticles Using Leaf and Fruit Extracts of Neolamarckia cadamba.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles have been biosynthesized with the help of Neolamarckia cadamba leaf and fruit extracts. ZnO nanoparticles were tested for antibacterial activity before and after calcination against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) as well as Gram negative micro-organisms (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) within the concentration range 0.625-10 mg/mL with the help of well diffusion technique. Higher antibacterial potential has been observed in ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using leaf extract in comparison with those synthesized using fruit extract. Increased antibacterial activity was observed before calcination as compared to after calcination. ZnO synthesized using leaf extract were observed to show significant antibacterial potential against E. coli, S. aureus along with P. aeruginosa before calcination as well as against E. coli after calcination. Similarly, ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using fruit extract exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli and P. aeruginosa before calcination and against E. coli after calcination. Both the ZnO nanoparticles before and after calcination did not show any antibacterial activity against B. subtilis. Thus, ZnO nanoparticles can serve a dual purpose by its application as an antibacterial agent against susceptible micro-organisms as well as biocompatible carrier system for drug delivery applications in case of non-antibacterial properties by virtue of its inertness as well as easy disposal.

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Properties of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles.

With increase in incidence of multidrug resistant pathogens, there is a demand to adapt newer approaches in order to combat these diseases as traditional therapy is insufficient for their treatment. Use of nanotechnology provides a promising alternative as antimicrobial agents as against traditional antibiotics. Metal oxides have been exploited for a long times for their antimicrobial properties. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are preferred over other metal oxide nanoparticles because of their bio-compatible nature and excellent antibacterial potentials. The basic mechanism of bactericidal nature of ZnO nanoparticles includes physical contact between ZnO nanoparticles and the bacterial cell wall, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as free radicals and release of Zn2+ ions. This review focuses on different synthesis methods of ZnO nanoparticles, various analytical techniques frequently used for testing antibacterial properties, mechanism explaining antibacterial nature of ZnO nanoparticles as well as different factors affecting the antibacterial properties.

A Review on Antimicrobial Properties of Metal Nanoparticles.

The field of nanotechnology elaborates the synthesis, characterization as well as application of nanomaterials. Applications of nanoparticles in various fields have interested scientists since decades due to its unique properties. Combination of pharmacology with nanotechnology has helped in development of newer antimicrobial agents in order to control the ever increasing multidrug resistant micro-organisms. Properties of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles like silver, gold, titanium dioxide as well as magnesium oxide as antimicrobial agents are very well known. This review elaborates synthesis methods and antimicrobial mechanisms of various metal as well as metal oxide nanoparticles for better understanding in order to utilize their potentials in various biomedical applications.

Non-antibacterial as well as non-anticancer activity of flower extract and its biogenous silver nanoparticles.

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized by using the white flower extract of Albizia lebbeck as a source of reducing and capping agents. A. lebbeck white flower extract and silver nanoparticles were checked for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Ba cillus subtilis by using Mueller Hinton agar, nutrient agar and Luria Bertani agar using the well diffusion method. The synthesized silver nanoparticles did not show antibacterial activity at lower (0.1-0.4 mg ml-1) or higher (0.5-2.5 mg ml-1) concentrations against any of the four organisms on either of the media, even though silver nanoparticles have been well known to show antibacterial activity even at lower concentrations. The non-antibacterial properties of the synthesized silver nanoparticles against all four bacteria were confirmed using viability counting. With this unique non-antibacterial property of biogenous silver nanoparticles observed in this study, it can be stated that case by case evaluation of every synthesized silver nanoparticle needs to be done as there are multiple factors influencing their properties. Anticancer activity of these nanoparticles at different concentrations against A549 cancer cells did not show any significant decrease in cell viability highlighting its biocompatible nature. Thus, these silver nanoparticles can be a best suited candidate for drug delivery.

Effect of Nutrient Media on Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Neolamarckia cadamba.

Silver nanoparticles synthesized using leaf and fruit extracts which were centrifuged at different speeds (rev/min) were screened for anti-bacterial activity by using four human pathogens namely E. coli, P. aeroginosa (Gram negative) and S. aureus, B. subtilis (Gram positive). The silver nanoparticles showed good anti-bacterial activity against gram-positive as well as gram-negative bacteria. Nonetheless, silver nanoparticles synthesized using leaf extract has shown pre-dominant anti-bacterial activity rather than fruit extract. When comparing the antibacterial activity by using different media, nutrient agar and Luria Bertini agar have shown better results than Mueller Hinton agar for the same set of bacteria as well as nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles showed different activity in different media which can be extrapolated to the way in which anti-microbial agents act in different environment relating it to its functioning in different human bodies.