Novel Bioengineered Antibacterial and Anticancer ZnO Nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Biomaterials Science
• Mycology

Background:

• Transition metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have diverse applications.
• Biocompatible nanomaterials are crucial for therapeutic applications.
• Fungal biosynthesis offers a sustainable route for NP synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize biocompatible zinc nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using fungal proteins.
• To characterize the synthesized ZnO NPs.
• To evaluate the antibacterial and anticancer potential of the ZnO NPs.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and characterization of a novel fungus, *Alternaria sp*.
• Biosynthesis of ZnO NPs using extracted fungal proteins.
• Characterization using UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM, HR-TEM, XRD, DLS, zeta potential, and FTIR.
• Antibacterial activity assessed via Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC).
• Anticancer activity evaluated against A549 cells and NRK normal cells.
• Mechanism of action investigated through DAPI staining, ROS generation, and oxidative stress parameters.

Main Results:

• ZnO NPs synthesized with a hexagonal wurtzite phase, average size of ~18 nm, and hydrodynamic diameter of ~57 nm.
• Effective bactericidal activity against multiple bacterial strains (*S. abony*, *B. pumilis*, *K. pneumonia*, *E. coli*, *B. subtilis*, *S. aureus*).
• Significant concentration-dependent anticancer activity against A549 cells (IC50 ~65.3 μg/mL) with no observed cytotoxicity against NRK cells.
• Evidence of particle internalization, nuclear fragmentation, DNA damage, and ROS generation in cancer cells.

Conclusions:

• Novel, biocompatible ZnO NPs were successfully synthesized using a fungal protein-mediated approach.
• The bioengineered ZnO NPs exhibit potent broad-spectrum antibacterial and selective anticancer activities.
• These findings highlight the potential of fungal-mediated biosynthesis for developing therapeutic nanomaterials.