Zinc oxide nanoparticles: Chemical and green synthesis, characterization, and comparative evaluation of their effects...

The present research was designed to investigate the potential effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized by both chemical and green method in caprine testis. In this study, rod-shaped zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) with diameter less than 100 nm were prepared by chemical and green method using polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and Ocimum sanctum leaf extract as stabilizing agents respectively. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, LCMS, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and EDX were utilized to characterize the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles. The histomorphological alterations of both chemically synthesized and biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles were evaluated after administration of two doses (10 µg/ml and 20 µg/ml) for exposure duration of 4 h and 8 h. Chemically synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles induced significant damage in testicular cells in dose and time-dependent manner. The Histomorphological changes included desquamation in germinal epithelium, pyknosis in germ cells, increased vacuolization, loss of mature spermatozoa from lumen and wide interstitial space between seminiferous tubules. Protective effects of biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles were recorded at lower dose whereas some alterations were observed when treated with 20 µg/ml for 4 h and 8 h culture duration. The results confirmed that phytochemicals present in leaf extract of O. sanctum mitigated the zinc oxide nanoparticles induced toxicity, proving biosynthesized nanoparticles are better than chemically synthesized nanoparticles.