Comparative antimicrobial and anticancer activity of biologically and chemically synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles toward breast cancer cells

Objective(s): This study was aimed to investigate the synthesis of novel zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) using Solanum trilobatum leaf extract as the reducing and capping agents, called green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (GS-ZnONPs). Materials and Methods: Chemically synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (CS-ZnONPs) were synthesized using precipitation method with zinc nitrates hexahydrate as reducing precursors. The synthesized GS- and CS-ZnONPs were examined and characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, respectively. Results: GS-ZnONPs exhibited a higher zone of inhibition of 28.6 mm, 27.63 mm, and 29.33 mm for Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively compared to CS-ZnONPs. From the growth inhibition experiments with E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, it was evident that GS-ZnONPs have exhibited higher growth inhibition as compared to CS-ZnONPs. The IC50 for CS-ZnONPs in MCF-7 cell line was found at 136.16 µg/mL and for GS-ZnONPs was found at 85.05 µg/mL. The proliferation of cancer cells were directly proportional to the concentration of NPs. As compared to CS-ZnONPs, GS-ZnONPs have exhibited higher cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 cell line. Conclusion: It was concluded that GS-ZnONPs represented much enhanced anticancer and antibacterial activity compared to CS-ZnONPs.