Zinc oxide (ZnO) nano/microparticles (NPs/MPs) have been studied as antibiotics to enhance antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria and viruses with or without antibiotic resistance. They have unique physicochemical characteristics that can affect biological and toxicological responses in microorganisms. Metal ion release, particle adsorption, and reactive oxygen species generation are the main mechanisms underlying their antimicrobial action. In this review, we describe the physicochemical characteristics of ZnO NPs/MPs related to biological and toxicological effects and discuss the recent findings of the antimicrobial activity of ZnO NPs/MPs and their combinations with other materials against pathogenic microorganisms. Current biomedical applications of ZnO NPs/MPs and combinations with other materials are also presented. This review will provide the better understanding of ZnO NPs/MPs as antibiotic alternatives and aid in further development of antibiotic agents for industrial and clinical applications.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have been studied as metal-based drugs that may be used for biomedical applications due to the fact of their biocompatibility. Their physicochemical properties, which depend on synthesis techniques involving physical, chemical, biological, and microfluidic reactor methods affect biological activity in vitro and in vivo. Advanced tool-based physicochemical characterization is required to identify the biological and toxicological effects of ZnO nanoparticles. These nanoparticles have variable morphologies and can be molded into three-dimensional structures to enhance their performance. Zinc oxide nanoparticles have shown therapeutic activity against cancer, diabetes, microbial infection, and inflammation. They have also shown the potential to aid in wound healing and can be used for imaging tools and sensors. In this review, we discuss the synthesis techniques, physicochemical characteristics, evaluation tools, techniques used to generate three-dimensional structures, and the various biomedical applications of ZnO nanoparticles.

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Background: Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and their networks have been developed for use in various applications such as gas sensors and semiconductors. Aim: In this study, their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli under dual ultraviolet (UV) irradiation for disinfection was investigated. Materials and methods: ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized and immobilized onto silicon (Si) wafers by self-assembly. The physicochemical properties and antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles and their networks were evaluated. Gene ontology was analyzed and toxicity levels were also monitored. Results: Synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were spherical nanocrystals (,100 nm; Zn, 47%; O, 53%) that formed macro-mesoporous three-dimensional nanostructures on Si wafers in a concentration-dependent manner. ZnO nanoparticles and their networks on Si wafers had an excellent antibacterial activity against E. coli under dual UV irradiation (.3log CFU/mL). Specifically, arrayed ZnO nanoparticle networks showed superior activity compared with free synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. Oxidative stress-responsive proteins in E. coli were identified and categorized, which indicated antibacterial activity. Synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were less cytotoxic in HaCaT with an IC50 of 6.632 mg/mL, but phototoxic in Balb/c 3T3. Conclusion: The results suggested that ZnO nanoparticles and their networks can be promising photocatalytic antibiotics for use in next-generation disinfection systems. Their application could also be extended to industrial and clinical use as effective and safe photocatalytic antibiotics.

Targeted delivery systems of nanobiomaterials are necessary to be developed for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Nanobiomaterials can be engineered to recognize cancer-specific receptors at the cellular levels and to deliver anticancer drugs into the diseased sites. In particular, nanobiomaterial-based nanocarriers, so-called nanoplatforms, are the design of the targeted delivery systems such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles/micelles, nanoconjugates, norganic materials, carbon-based nanobiomaterials, and bioinspired phage system, which are based on the nanosize of 1–100 nm in diameter. In this review, the design and the application of these nanoplatforms are discussed at the cellular levels as well as in the clinics. We believe that this review can offer recent advances in the targeted delivery systems of nanobiomaterials regarding in vitro and in vivo applications and the translation of nanobiomaterials to nanomedicine in anticancer therapy.

LAT1 can be a versatile target to promisingly develop transporter-based drugs with enhanced drug delivery potential for anticancer therapy.

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Metal oxide (MO) nanoparticles have been studied as nano-antibiotics due to their antimicrobial activities even in antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. We hypothesized that a hybrid system of dual UV irradiation and MO nanoparticles would have enhanced antimicrobial activities compared with UV or MO nanoparticles alone. In this study, nanoparticles of ZnO, ZnTiO 3 , MgO, and CuO were selected as model nanoparticles. A dual UV collimated beam device of UV-A and UV-C was developed depending upon the lamp divided by coating. Physicochemical properties of MO nanoparticles were determined using powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, and field emission-scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Atomic force microscopy with an electrostatic force microscopy mode was used to confirm the surface topology and electrostatic characteristics after dual UV irradiation. For antimicrobial activity test, MO nanoparticles under dual UV irradiation were applied to Escherichia coli and M13 bacteriophage (phage). The UV-A and UV-C showed differential intensities in the coated and uncoated areas (UV-A, coated = uncoated; UV-C, coated ≪ uncoated). MO nanoparticles showed sharp peaks in PXRD patterns, matched to pure materials. Their primary particle sizes were less than 100 nm with irregular shapes, which had an 8.6~25.6 m 2 /g of specific surface area with mesopores of 22~262 nm. The electrostatic properties of MO nanoparticles were modulated after UV irradiation. ZnO, MgO, and CuO nanoparticles, except ZnTiO 3 nanoparticles, showed antibacterial effects on E. coli . Antimicrobial effects on E. coli and phages were also enhanced after cyclic exposure of dual UV and MO nanoparticle treatment using the uncoated area, except ZnO nanoparticles. Our results demonstrate that dual UV-MO nanoparticle hybrid system has a potential for disinfection. We anticipate that it can be developed as a next-generation disinfection system in pharmaceutical industries and water purification systems.