Multifunctional ZnO nanostructures: a next generation nanomedicine for cancer therapy, targeted drug delivery, bioimaging, and tissue regeneration

Abstract

Zinc oxide nanostructures (ZnO NSs) are one of the most versatile and promising metal oxides having significant importance in biomedical fields, especially for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. ZnO possesses unique physio-chemical and biological properties such as photo-chemical stability, corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, biocompatibility, higher targeting capability, and ROS-triggered cytotoxicity. These ZnO NSs enhance their potential for various biomedical applications such as cancer therapy, drug delivery, bioimaging, tissue engineering, etc. Furthermore, ZnO possesses excellent luminescent properties that make it useful for bioimaging and image-guided targeted drug delivery, thereby reducing the unwanted side effects of chemotherapeutic agents. Besides, these characteristics, enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, electrostatic interaction, ROS production, and pH-dependent dissolution of ZnO also make them potential aspirants as therapeutics that are suggested as keys parameter for cytotoxic and cell death mechanisms via apoptosis, autophagy, and mitophagy mechanism. Here, the recent progress and advances of ZnO NSs in bioimaging, drug delivery, and tissue engineering are discussed along with the advantages, limitations, and future advancement for biological applications.

ZnO based 0–3D diverse nano-architectures, films and coatings for biomedical applications

“…For example, several recent published reviews are focused on green synthesis of ZnO materials and biomedical applications 38–44 with major emphasis on the eco-friendly approach of the green synthesis route. Several reviews are focused on some particular biomedical applications such as antibacterial, 45–48 wound healing, 49 cancer therapy, 40,48 drug delivery, 50 bioimaging, 47,51 etc . Some reviews are focused on ZnO/polymer nanocomposites and their biomedical applications.…”

Screening of low‐toxic zinc oxide nanomaterials and study the apoptosis mechanism of NSC‐34 cells

“…[ 38 ] According to studies, the accumulation of ROS in cells in high quantities can result in oxidative stress, leading to structural damage in mitochondria, disrupting the balance of nutrient transport, and ultimately causing cell death. [ 39 ] In a study by Gupta et al., [ 40 ] it was discovered that ZnO‐NMts dissolve into cancer cells and generate Zn2+ in an acidic environment. This process induces oxidative stress, triggering the production of ROS, which activates the internal apoptotic pathway.…”