Zinc oxide nanoparticles for selective destruction of tumor cells and potential for drug delivery applications

Abstract

Importance of the field-Metal oxide nanoparticles, including zinc oxide, are versatile platforms for biomedical applications and therapeutic intervention. There is an urgent need to develop new classes of anticancer agents, and recent studies demonstrate that ZnO nanomaterials hold considerable promise.Areas covered in this review-This review analyzes the biomedical applications of metal oxide and ZnO nanomaterials under development at the experimental, preclinical, and clinical levels. A discussion regarding the advantages, approaches, and limitations surrounding the use of metal oxide nanoparticles for cancer applications and drug delivery is presented. The scope of this article is focused on ZnO, and other metal oxide nanomaterial systems, and their proposed mechanisms of cytotoxic action, as well as current approaches to improve their targeting and cytotoxicity against cancer cells.Take home message-Through a better understanding of the mechanisms of action and cellular consequences resulting from nanoparticles interactions with cells, the inherent toxicity and selectivity of ZnO nanoparticles against cancer may be further improved to make them attractive new anti-cancer agents.

DNA Adsorption by ZnO Nanoparticles near Its Solubility Limit: Implications for DNA Fluorescence Quenching and DNAzyme Activity Assays

“…The function of ionic strength was studied by varying the concentration of NaCl (50, 150, or 300 mM). To study the effect of ZnO concentration, FAM-A5 (10 nM) was mixed with various concentrations of ZnO NPs (0,1,2,3,5,7,10,15,20, or 25 µg/mL). Note that the volume of ZnO NPs was kept smaller than 5 µL for each addition.…”

A microporous titanosilicate for selective killing of HeLa cancer cells

“…In medicine, the antitumor effect of the Zn 2+ ion is well known, [14][15][16][17] however the problem with the discrimination between the cancer and the healthy cells remains one of the most important challenges. 18,19 Here, we show that Zn 2+ ions included in the pore system of the microporous titanosilicate ETS-4 (Engelheart titanium silicate-4), 20 transform the material to a highly efficient and selective inhibitor of HeLa cancer cells. The obtained solid (Zn-ETS-4), without affecting the healthy cells, can reduce the tumor cells down to 5%.…”

Revolutionary Therapies and Manipulation of Nanoparticles to Cure Cancer

“…The toxicity appliance of ZnO nanoparticles was examined using human liver cancer HepG2 cells. The poisonous effects of ZnO nanoparticles are due to the immovability of compounds [10].…”