Antibacterial and Anticancer Properties of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: A Review of Current Advances and Future Directions

Zinc oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have a promising potential in antibacterial and anticancer treatments because of their ease of production, low toxicity, and versatility in application. This review encompasses recently developed synthesis, characterizing and biomedical applications of ZnO-NPs. Green synthesis methodologies, sol-gel, and precipitation influence the biological effectiveness of ZnO-NPs, these methods particularly affect key characteristics such as particle size, shape and surface charge. These properties play crucial roles in antibacterial effectiveness, which facilitates their ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and bacterial cell membrane disruption, leading to bacterial cell death. The efficiency of ZnO-NP in cancer treatment is also reviewed because the nanoparticles selectively affect cancer cells, which generate apoptosis and cease cell proliferation. Additional novel applications of ZnO-NPs further highlight their benefits because they improve the precise delivery of the drug and enhance its bioavailability. Additionally, ZnO-NPs had future uses in photodynamic therapy as their light-triggered ROS generation results in localized and selective bactericidal and anticancer effects without affecting normal cells. This review provides a comparative evaluation of recent findings on the antibacterial and anticancer properties of ZnO-NPs, as well as exploring the possible directions for futural research; in addition, it emphasizes improving the functional characteristics of ZnO-NPs for enhancing the therapeutic impact and reducing the unfavorable influences that may expand the list of possible clinical uses of ZnO-NPs.