Unlocking the therapeutic potential: Green synthesized zinc oxide/silver nanoparticles from Sophora pachycarpa for anticancer activity, gene expression analysis, and antibacterial applications

Hematologic malignancies and bloodstream infections rank among the most lethal medical conditions. Research on new treatments for these diseases is crucial. In this study, we investigated the anticancer properties and molecular mechanisms of zinc oxide nanoparticles doped with silver synthesized using a green approach involving Sophora pachycarpa (S. pachycarpa) plant seed extract (SPS@ZnO/Ag NPs). Additionally, we explored the antibacterial effects of these nanoparticles and S. pachycarpa extract. The SPS@ZnO/Ag NPs were characterized using XRD, FTIR, zeta potential, EDS, FESEM, and TEM analyses. Subsequently, we assessed the viability of K562 cells in the presence of different nanoparticles and extract. Molecular mechanisms underlying cell death were examined through flow cytometry analysis, Hoechst staining, and relative expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Apaf-1, Cytochrome c, Caspases 3, 6, 9) relative to the gene B-actin. Also, BAX/BCL2 ratio was determined. Antibacterial effects were evaluated against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The results confirmed successful synthesis of spherical SPS@ZnO/Ag NPs with positive surface charge, purity, and size ranging from 50 to 65 nm. SPS@ZnO/Ag NPs significantly reduced K562 cell viability compared to S. pachycarpa extract and chemical nanoparticles, with the 1:1 ratio of zinc oxide and silver nitrate exhibiting the highest cell death. The findings from flow cytometry analysis, Hoechst staining, and molecular pathway analysis indicate that SPS@ZnO/Ag NPs induce cancer cell death through apoptosis. Evaluation of antibacterial properties demonstrated the destruction of all studied strains by SPS@ZnO/Ag NPs. Overall, our study demonstrates that green synthesis, in comparison to chemical synthesis, exerts a notable impact on the anticancer properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles doped with silver. Moreover, SPS@ZnO/Ag NPs exhibit targeted induction of cancer cell apoptosis, showcasing their potential application in biomedical fields

Harmonizing nature and nanotechnology: Phytoextract-mediated synthesis of Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles using Lavandula stoechas extract for environmental and biomedical applications

Nanoparticles, owing to their distinctive physical and chemical attributes, play pivotal roles in advancing nanomedicine and environmental technologies, particularly in the development of therapeutic systems and clean energy solutions. In this study, we achieved the synthesis of silver-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles utilizing Lavandula stoechas extract (LSE@Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles) for the first time. The characterization of nanoparticles involved Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDAX), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. XRD and TEM results illustrated a crystalline structure, spherical shape, and a size range of approximately 45–65 nm for the synthesized nanoparticles. The photocatalytic property of LSE@Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles was assessed through the degradation of gentamicin. Optimization reactions, encompassing nanocatalyst dosage, light source, and antibiotic concentration, were conducted to achieve maximum degradation efficiency. Remarkably, under optimal conditions, LSE@Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles exhibited a remarkable 93.7 % degradation of gentamicin in just 100 min. Additionally, the antifungal and antibacterial properties against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains were investigated. Notably, the highest antibacterial activity was observed against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus strains with concentrations of 250, 125, 62.5, and 250 μg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, the anticancer potential of LSE@Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles against the HT-29 cancer cell line was explored, revealing an IC50 value of 21.37 μg/ml. Additionally, the nanoparticles demonstrated potent antioxidant capabilities, with a 79.8 % DPPH removal percentage for LSE@Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles. These findings underscore the multifaceted properties of the synthesized nanoparticles, holding promising prospects for applications in both medical and environmental sciences