Bio-assessments of the antibiofilm, antioxidant, and plasmid inhibitory effects of zinc selenide nanoparticles synthesized using Stachys lavandulifolia extract

ZnSe nanoparticles (NPs) are employed in multiple fields, including environmental, electronic, and materials science. However, their biological features have not been extensively studied. Thus, this study focused on the biosynthesis of ZnSe nanoparticles using the aqueous extract of Stachys lavandulifolia as the unique origin. Moreover, the biogenic ZnSe NPs were examined using UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDX, and TEM techniques. The bioactivity of ZnSe NPs was evaluated using various trials. The ZnSe NPs showed a distinct absorbance peak in the UV-visible spectrum at 304 nm. The FTIR revealed the potential functional groups linked to biomolecules participating in the synthesis of ZnSe NPs. SEM and TEM showed that the ZnSe NPs were spherical, with a size range of 10-30 nm. XRD revealed that the crystallite size of the NPs was 15.2 nm, and EDX indicated that their elemental compositions included selenium and zinc in a 40.9:37.0 ratio. The DPPH scavenging potential of ZnSe NPs and plant extract was found to have IC₅₀ values of 16.8 and 35.7 mg/mL, respectively. Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against three MDR pathogens exhibited two-fold potency against P. aeruginosa (NDM-1) compared to K. pneumonia (blakpc) and S. aureus (MRSA). Additionally, plasmid curing tests established resistance disruption in P. aeruginosa (hospital isolate) and K. pneumonia (blakpc). Cytotoxicity tests on the KB cancer and HF normal cell lines, based on IC₅₀ values, showed that ZnSe NPs were equivalent to 23.43 µg/mL and 30.15 µg/mL, respectively. To conclude, the eco-friendly synthesis of ZnSe NPs can meet the essential requirements for therapeutic and preventive uses.