Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Antibacterial and anticancer activity of ZnO with different morphologies: a comparative study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
3 Biotech Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

ZnO nanoparticles (NPS) with different morphologies were synthesized, and the antibacterial and anticancer activity was studied, herein. The physicochemical characterization was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV–visible. To study the antibacterial and anticancer capability of ZnO NPS, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria and HeLa cancer cells were exposed at different doses of ZnO NPS (7–250 µg/mL). TEM analysis confirmed the obtention of spherical, hexagonal and rod ZnO NPS with an average diameter of 20 ± 4 nm, 1.17 ± 0.3 µm and 1.11 ± 1.2 µm, respectively. XRD diffractograms showed the characteristic pattern of crystalline ZnO in wurtzite phase. FTIR and UV–vis spectra showed slight differences of the main absorption peaks, revealing that different ZnO NPS morphologies may cause shifts in spectra. Biological essays showed that the number of E. coli and S. aureus bacteria as well as HeLa cells decreases linearly by increasing the nanoparticle concentration. However, the best anticancer and antibacterial activity was shown by spherical ZnO NPS at 100 µg/mL. The better capability of spherical ZnO NPS than hexagonal and rod ZnO NPS is related with its small particle size. The present results suggest that the spherical ZnO NPS has a great potential as an antibacterial and anticancer agent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bhattacharya D, Santra CR, Ghosh AN, Karmakar P (2014) Differential toxicity of rod and spherical zinc oxide nanoparticles on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. J Biomed Nanotechnol 10(4):707–716

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brindhadevi K, Samuel MS, Verma TN, Vasantharaj S, Sathiyavimal S, Saravanan M, Pugazhendhi A, Duc PA (2020) Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) -induced antioxidants and photocatalytic degradation activity from hybrid grape pulp extract (HGPE). Biocatal Agric Biotechnol 28:101730

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chakra CHs, Rajendar V, Rao KV, Kumar M (2017) Enhanced antimicrobial and anticancer properties of ZnO and TiO2 nanocomposites. 3 Biotech 7(2): 89

  • Chandrasekaran P, Viruthagiri G, Srinivasan N (2012) The effect of various capping agents on the surface modifications of sol–gel synthesised ZnO nanoparticles. J Alloys Compd 540(2012):89–93

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elumalai K, Velmurugan S (2015) Green synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activities of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles from the leaf extract of Azadirachta indica (L.). Appl Surf Sci 345:329–336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Esparza-González SC, Sánchez-Valdés S, Ramírez-Barrón SN, Loera-Arias MJ, Bernal J, Meléndez-Ortiz HI, Betancourt-Galindo R (2016) Effects of different surface modifying agents on the cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of ZnO nanoparticles. Toxicol in Vitro 37:134–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fadoju O, Ogunsuyi O, Akanni O, Alabi O, Alimba C, Adaramoye O, Cambier S, Eswara S, Gutleb AC, Bakare A (2019) Evaluation of cytogenotoxicity and oxidative stress parameters in male Swiss mice co-exposed to titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 70:103204

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hackenberg S, Scherzed A, Technau A, Kessler M, Froelich K, Ginzkey C, Koehler C, Burghartz M, Hagen R, Kleinsasser N (2011) Cytotoxic, genotoxic and pro-inflammatory effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles in human nasal mucosa cells in vitro. Toxicol in vitro 25(3):657–663

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haque MA, Mahalakshmi S (2013) Effect of Triethanolamine on Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles. Mater Focus 2:469–474

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hsieh C-H (2007) Spherical Zinc Oxide Nano Particles from Zinc Acetate in the Precipitation Method. J Chin Chem Soc 2007(54):31–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hussain A, Oves M, Alajmi MF, Hussain I, Amir S, Ahmed J, Rehman MT, El-Seedif HR, Ali I (2019) Biogenesis of ZnO nanoparticles using Pandanus odorifer leaf extract: anticancer and antimicrobial activities. RSC Adv 9(27):15357–15369

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacob JM, Rajan R, Aji M, Kurup GG, Pugazhendhi A (2019a) Bio-inspired ZnS quantum dots as efficient photo catalysts for the degradation of methylene blue in aqueous phase. Ceram Int 45(4):4857–4862

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacob JM, Rajan R, Tom TC, Kumara VS, Kurup GG, Shanmuganathan R, Pugazhendhi A (2019b) Biogenic design of ZnS quantum dots - Insights into their in-vitro cytotoxicity, photocatalysis and biosensing properties. Ceram Int 45(18A):24193–24201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jorgensen JH and J. D. Turnidge (2015) Susceptibility test methods: dilution and disk diffusion methods. Manual of Clinical Microbiology, Eleventh Edition, pp. 1253–1273: American Society of Microbiology

  • Kim KM, Choi MH, Lee JK, Jeong J, Kim YR, Kim MK, Paek SM, Oh JM (2014) Physicochemical properties of surface charge-modified ZnO nanoparticles with different particle sizes. Int J Nanomed 9 Suppl 2(Suppl 2): 41–56

  • Lin W, Xu Y, Huang C, Ma Y, Shannon KB, Chen D, Huang Y (2009) Toxicity of nano- and micro-sized ZnO particles in human lung epithelial cells. J Nanoparticle Res 11:25–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahamuni PP, Patil PM, Dhanavade MJ, Badiger MV, Shadija PG, Lokhande AC, Bohara RA (2018) Synthesis and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles by using polyol chemistry for their antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity. Biochem Biophys Rep 17:71–80

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Manikandana E, Kavithac G, Kennedy J (2014) Epitaxial zinc oxide, graphene oxide composite thin-films by laser technique for micro-Raman and enhanced field emission study. Ceram Int 40 (10-A): 16065–16070

  • Miri A, Mahdinejad N, Ebrahimy O, Khatami M, Sarani M (2019) Zinc oxide nanoparticles: Biosynthesis, characterization, antifungal and cytotoxic activity. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl 104:109981

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moharram AH, Mansour SA, Hussein MA, Rashad M (2014) Direct Precipitation and Characterization of ZnO Nanoparticles. J Nanomater 2014:716210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paino IMM, Goncalves FJ, Souza FL, Zucolotto V (2016) Zinc Oxide Flower-Like Nanostructures That Exhibit Enhanced Toxicology Effects in Cancer Cells. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 8(48):32699–32705

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raza W, Faisal SM, Owais M, Bahnemanncd D, Muneer M (2016) Facile fabrication of highly efficient modified ZnO photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic, antibacterial and anticancer activity. RSC Advances 6(82):78335–78350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shabaani M, Rahaiee S, Zare M, Jafari SM (2020) Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using loquat seed extract; Biological functions and photocatalytic degradation properties. LWT 134:110133

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sisubalan N, Ramkumar VS, Pugazhendhi A, Karthikeyan C, Indira K, Gopinath K, Hameed ASH, Basha MHG (2018) ROS-mediated cytotoxic activity of ZnO and CeO2 nanoparticles synthesized using the Rubia cordifolia L. leaf extract on MG-63 human osteosarcoma cell lines. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 25 (11): 10482–10492

  • Sivakumar P, Lee M, Kim YS, Shim MS (2018) Photo-triggered antibacterial and anticancer activities of zinc oxide nanoparticles. J Mater Chem B 6(30):4852–4871

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soosen SM, Lekshmi B, George KC (2009) Optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles. SB Academic Review XVI, 57–65.

  • Stankovic A, Dimitrijevic S, Uskokovic D (2013) Influence of size scale and morphology on antibacterial properties of ZnO powders hydrothemally synthesized using different surface stabilizing agents. Colloids Surf B 102:21–28

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Talluri B, Thomas T (2019) Physicochemical properties of chimie douce derived, digestively ripened, ultra-small (r<2 nm) ZnO QDs. Colloids Surf A 575:310–317

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varadavenkatesan T, Lyubchik E, Pai S, Pugazhendhi A, Vinayagam R, Selvaraj R (2019) Photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B by zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using the leaf extract of Cyanometra ramiflora. J Photoch Photobio B 199:111621

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vinayagam R, Selvaraj R, Arivalagan P, Varadavenkatesan T (2020) Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic dye degradation capability of Calliandra haematocephala-mediated zinc oxide nanoflowers. J Photochem Photobiol B 203:111760

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wahab R, Mishra A, Yun SI, Kim YS, Shin HS (2010) Antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles prepared via non-hydrolytic solution route. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 87(5):1917–1925

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xie J, Li Y, Zhao W, Bian L, Wei Y (2011) Simple fabrication and photocatalytic activity of ZnO particles with different morphologies. Powder Technol 207(1–3):140–144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuvakkumar R, Suresh J, Saravanakumar B, Joseph Nathanael A, Hong SI, Rajendran V (2015) Rambutan peels promoted biomimetic synthesis of bioinspired zinc oxide nanochains for biomedical applications. Spectrochim Acta Part A 137:250–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of CONACYT through project 304663 and Laboratorio Nacional de Materiales Grafenos, 299124. The authors would like to thank J.A. Mercado-Silva and Alejandro-Espinoza for their technical assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Dentistry, Saltillo Campus, Autonomous University of Coahuila, Adolfo Lopez Mateos, 25125, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico

    S. C. Esparza González

  2. School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, 64460, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

    J. J. Pérez-Trujillo

  3. Center for Research in Applied Chemistry, Blvd. Enrique Reyna No. 140, Col. San José de Los Cerritos, 25294, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico

    Ena Bolaina-Lorenzo, B. A. Puente-Urbina, O. Rodríguez-Fernández & R. Betancourt-Galindo

  4. Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT)-Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada (CIQA), Blvd. Enrique Reyna Hermosillo 140, 25294, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico

    A. Fonseca-García

Authors
  1. S. C. Esparza González
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ena Bolaina-Lorenzo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. J. Pérez-Trujillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. A. Puente-Urbina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. O. Rodríguez-Fernández
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. Fonseca-García
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. R. Betancourt-Galindo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

E-G and B-G conceived the original idea. B-L and B-G wrote the manuscript including interpretation of findings. P-T and E-G designed and performed the biological characterization. P-U carried out the synthesis and purification of nanoparticles. R-F gave feedback on the interpretation of findings and the manuscript. F-G designed and supervised the physicochemical characterization. B-G supervised and got the funding for the project.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Betancourt-Galindo.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in the publication.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

González, S.C.E., Bolaina-Lorenzo, E., Pérez-Trujillo, J.J. et al. Antibacterial and anticancer activity of ZnO with different morphologies: a comparative study. 3 Biotech 11, 68 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-020-02611-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-020-02611-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation