Curcumin loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles for activity-enhanced antibacterial and anticancer applications

Abstract

Curcumin-loaded ZnO nanocomposites act as an effective, synergistically-enhanced combination delivery/therapeutic agent, holding promise for anticancer and antimicrobial therapy with reduced toxicities.

SnO2-Doped ZnO/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization, and Improved Anticancer Activity via Oxidative Stress Pathway

“… 49 ZnO NPs induce apoptosis in cancer cells through caspase-activation and MMP depletion. 12 , 13 Caspase-3 is a protease that is present in mitochondria and critically involved in apoptotic pathway. 50 Apoptotic response of prepared samples was determined by measuring the regulation of caspase-3 gene and MMP level in MCF-7 cells.…”

“…Due to unique physiochemical characteristics ZnO NPs have shown inherent selective toxicity against cancer cells while posing minimum effects to the normal cells. 9–11 ZnO NPs induce apoptosis in cancer cells through the generation of ROS and depletion of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) 12 , 13 Manipulation in intracellular ROS generation is a probable way to irreversibly damage cancerous cells selectively without applying much harm to normal cells. The ROS-generating potential of ZnO NPs is associated with its optical properties.…”

Antimicrobial Activity of Zinc Oxide Nano/Microparticles and Their Combinations against Pathogenic Microorganisms for Biomedical Applications: From Physicochemical Characteristics to Pharmacological Aspects

“…Antimicrobial polymeric biomaterials or films are used as additive composites in ZnO NP/MP combinations for enhanced antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms. Recently studied antibiotic biomaterials or films [ 26 , 28 ] in ZnO NPs/MPs combinations included chitosan [ 28 , 82 , 84 ], silk sericin [ 84 ], gelatin [ 91 ], gallic acid [ 28 ], hydroxyapatite [ 83 , 119 ], alginate [ 83 ], polyethyleneglycol (PEG) [ 120 ], biopolymer K [ 27 ], carrageenan [ 27 ], bacterial cellulose [ 121 , 122 ], propolis extract [ 121 ], curcumin [ 84 , 123 , 124 ], graphene [ 84 , 85 ], graphene oxide (GO) [ 86 , 87 , 125 ], reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and cotton [ 88 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 ]. In general, they enhanced the antimicrobial activity of ZnO NPs/MPs and overcame formulation challenges of ZnO NPs/MPs in manufacturing beads or films and covering surfaces for coating.…”

Curcumin Nanoformulations with Metal Oxide Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications

“…Perera et al [ 20 ] synthesized ZnO NPs with different morphologies and performed surface adsorption of curcumin on the nanoparticles. According to their study, the loading efficiency of curcumin on ZnO NPs indicated that long-petal and javelin morphologies possess higher loading.…”

“…Some studies reported that composite curcumin–metal oxide therapeutic agents demonstrate a better therapeutic performance than the constituents. Usually, the composite drug show additive therapeutic performance [ 20 ].…”