Anti-cancer Activity of Biogenic Nat -ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Nyctanthes arbor-tristis ( Nat ) Flower Extract

Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) have played an important role as nano-drug delivery systems during cancer therapy in recent years. These NPs can carry cancer therapeutic agents. Due to this, they are considered a promising ancillary to traditional cancer therapies. Among inorganic NPs, Zinc Oxide (ZnO) NPs have been extensively utilized in cellular imaging, gene/drug delivery, anti-microbial, and anti-cancerous applications. In this study, a rapid and cost-effective method was used to synthesize Nat -ZnO NPs using the floral extract of the Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (Nat) plant. Nat -ZnO NPs were physicochemically characterized and tested further on in vitro cancer models. The average hydrodynamic diameter ( Z average ) and the net surface charge of Nat -ZnO NPs were 372.5 ± 70.38 d.nm and −7.03 ± 0.55 mV, respectively. Nat -ZnO NPs exhibited a crystalline nature. HR-TEM analysis showed the triangular shape of NPs. Furthermore, Nat -ZnO NPs were also found to be biocompatible and hemocompatible when tested on mouse fibroblast cells and RBCs. Later, the anti-cancer activity of Nat -ZnO NPs was tested on lung and cervical cancer cells. These NPs displayed potent anti-cancer activity and induced programmed cell death in cancer cells.