Biomedical Letters

Synthesis and growth mechanism of ZnO nanospheres by hydrothermal process and their anticancer effect against glioblastoma multiforme

Younas Iqbal 1, Mohd Kamarulzaki Mustafa 2, Jianli Wang 1,4, Chao Wang 1, Uzair Majeed 3, Pir Muhammad 5, Fawad Ur Rehman 5, Imtiaz Ahmad 6

1 Institute for Computational Materials Science, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, china

2 Department of Physics and Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Educational Hub Pagoh, 84000, Muar, Johor, Malaysia

3 Department of Physics NED university of engineering and technology, Karachi

4 Institute for Superconducting & Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong

5 Henan-Macquarie University International Joint Center for Biomedical Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China

6 College of Chemistry and Molicular Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China

Abstract

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is one of the fatal cancers, primarily affecting the brain. Currently, no complete treatment is available. Nanotechnology-based approaches have the potential to meet this challenge. In this contribution, single-crystalline ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and employed in biomedicine as GBM ablating agent. Various concentrations of precursors, Zinc Nitrate Hexahydrate {(Zn(NO3)2.6H2O)} and Hexamethylene Tetraamine (C6H12N4) were mixed after vigorous stirring at the same temperature and deposition time. The resultant nanoparticles were characterized through field emission scanning electron microscopy FESEM (7699F, Japan) for surface microstructure, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy EDX (7699F, Japan) for elemental composition and X-rays diffraction XRD (Xpert3, PAN alytical, USA) for crystalline structure respectively. This technique was used for the first time to synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. The largest particle size calculated at 0.5 mM is 84.8721 Ao. Moreover, the GBM cells (LNZ-308) showed excellent uptake, whereas DCFDA analysis for reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation data revealed significantly higher yield as compared to PBS. Besides, the MTT assay showed the excellent anticancer effect of ZnO nanoparticles treatment (up to 80%) after 24 hours of incubation. These results suggest unique nano ZnO spheres excellent biomedical applications for GBM resection.