The synthesis of nanometer-sized metallic nanoparticles utilizing bio-sources is one of the most cost-effective and ecologically friendly approaches. Nano-zinc oxide particles (N-ZnO Ps) were made using a simple green synthesis method using an aqueous zinc nitrate salt and Perilla frutescens crude protein as a protecting and reducing agent in the current work. UV-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), (energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy) EDX and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) were used to characterize the synthesized N-ZnO Ps. A distinctive UV-vis absorption peak was observed at 370 nm due to N-ZnO Ps. The SEM and HR-TEM pictures revealed N-ZnO Ps with a triangular form. The XRD pattern indicated the wurtzite structure of N-ZnO Ps. Nanoparticles exhibited a zeta potential of -11.3 mV. The antibacterial activity of N-ZnO Ps was tested against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumonia) microorganisms. The N-ZnO Ps were non-toxic to HMC-3 human normal brain microglia cells; however, they exhibited a potential cytotoxic effect on the LN-18 human brain glioblastoma cell line. These results indicate that N-ZnOPs can act as promising antibacterial and anticancer treatments in the prevention of Glioblastoma.
Keywords: HR-TEM; N-ZnO Ps; antibacterial activity; anticancer activity; biosynthesis.