ZnO nanoparticles

Overview

zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO nanoparticles, ZnO NPs) are nanoscale forms of zinc oxide that are widely studied in materials science, nanomedicine, and environmental toxicology. In biomedical research, they are of interest because their surface chemistry, small size, and zinc ion release can contribute to antimicrobial, anticancer, catalytic, and redox-active properties. At the same time, these same features can also underlie cellular stress and developmental toxicity, making ZnO nanoparticles a dual-use nanomaterial with both therapeutic promise and safety concerns.

Recent studies have focused on green synthesis approaches, in which plant extracts act as reducing and capping agents to generate ZnO nanoparticles under relatively mild conditions. These studies often evaluate biological effects such as antioxidant activity, enzyme inhibition, cytotoxicity, antibacterial activity, anticoccidial activity, and interactions with oxidative stress pathways such as ferroptosis and ferritinophagy. ZnO nanoparticles have also been incorporated into nanobiotechnology platforms for controlled zinc release and catalytic or immunomodulatory applications.

Focus of Latest Publications

Recent publications on ZnO nanoparticles have focused heavily on green synthesis strategies and the resulting physicochemical and biological properties. Several studies used plant extracts as reducing and capping agents, including Hibiscus sabdariffa, green tea, pomegranate husk, pomegranate peel, Cucumis seed extract, Coriandrum sativum extract, and Datura stramonium leaf extract. These approaches were used to produce ZnO nanoparticles with confirmed crystallinity and nanoscale dimensions by UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, SEM/FE-SEM, EDX, and zeta potential analysis. Reported particle sizes varied with synthesis conditions, with some green-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles reaching the low-nanometer range and showing stable surface charges.

A major theme was the development of bioactive materials for antimicrobial and preservation applications. ZnO nanoparticles were incorporated into chitosan-based nanocomposites and anthocyanin-containing smart dipping solutions for Nile perch packaging, where the system showed antioxidant and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and extended refrigerated shelf life by up to six days while providing a visible color change as a freshness indicator. Other studies reported antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized from Datura stramonium and Cucumis seed extract, with the latter also showing membrane-disruptive effects and anticancer activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In a diabetic skin infection context, ZnO nanoparticles were included among eco-friendly antibacterial nanomaterials evaluated for activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, although the in vivo healing results in that study were attributed to an AgNP-based combination rather than ZnO nanoparticles alone.

Additional publications examined ZnO nanoparticles for therapeutic and functional applications beyond antimicrobial use. Pomegranate husk-derived ZnO nanoparticles showed antioxidant activity, inhibition of pancreatic lipase and alpha-amylase, and high Vero-cell viability, supporting interest in obesity-related enzyme inhibition. Pomegranate peel-derived ZnO nanoparticles were also studied as dual-functional materials for photocatalysis and supercapacitors, with synthesis temperature and precursor concentration strongly affecting morphology, charge-transfer resistance, photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue, and specific capacitance. In contrast, one study identified ZnO nanoparticles as an environmental and developmental stressor in Caenorhabditis elegans, where exposure caused developmental delay through mitochondrial dysfunction, reactive oxygen species accumulation, ferritinophagy, and ferroptosis, with SLC-30A9 downregulation implicated as an initiating event.

Overall, the recent literature portrays ZnO nanoparticles as highly versatile materials whose properties depend strongly on synthesis route and surface chemistry. The studies collectively emphasize green fabrication, structural control, and multifunctional performance, while also highlighting that ZnO nanoparticles can be beneficial in antimicrobial, packaging, catalytic, energy-storage, and enzyme-inhibition settings, yet may also produce adverse biological effects under exposure conditions.

Key Publications

NEWJun Smart and bioactive packaging systems from anthocyanins and zinc oxide nanoparticles for quality monitoring and shelf-life extension of Nile perch (Lates niloticus). (Scientific reports, 2026, PMID 42331978): "This study targeted the development of smart, active, and bioactive dipping solutions (SCS), comprising anthocyanin-rich extract from Hibiscus sabdariffa (HE) with green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) stabilized in chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs)."
NEWJun Biosynthesis of ecofriendly antibacterial nanoparticles with healing effects in a murine diabetic skin infection model. (Scientific reports, 2026, PMID 42297939): "Therefore, this study reports the eco-friendly synthesis of silver (AgNPs), zinc oxide (ZnONPs), and chitosan-tripolyphosphate nanoparticles (Cs-TPP-NPs) using green tea extract (GTE) and gamma irradiation."
May In Vitro and In Vivo Study of Green-Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles as a Novel Anticoccidial Agent. (Acta parasitologica, 2026, PMID 42154384): "This study sought to investigate the in vitro and in vivo anticoccidial capacity of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Coriandrum sativum extract (CSE-ZnONPs) against Eimeria papillata."
May Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using pomegranate husk extract: comparative evaluation of antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and cytotoxic properties. (Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology, 2026, PMID 42142531): "In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized using pomegranate husk extract via two green approaches: conventional heating and microwave-assisted synthesis."
Jun ZnO nanoparticles induce developmental delay in Caenorhabditis elegans via SLC-30A9-mediated ferritinophagy-ferroptosis axis. (Ecotoxicology and environmental safety, 2026, PMID 42140120): "Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been recognized as emerging contaminants, and their increasing environmental release has been verified to be associated with multiple adverse developmental consequences."
May Dual-Functional and Low-Toxicity ZnO Nanoparticles From Pomegranate Peel: Impact of Synthesis Parameters on Photocatalytic and Supercapacitive Performance. (ChemistryOpen, 2026, PMID 42012912): "This study systematically investigated the impact of synthesis temperature (25°C vs. 80°C) and zinc acetate concentration (0.5-2 M) on pomegranate peel extract-mediated ZnO nanoparticles."
Jun Sustainable green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles for antimicrobial and anticancer applications. (Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2026, PMID 41946082): "This study presents a technologically innovative route for the bio-enabled synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), in which Cucumis seed extract is introduced as a previously unexploited and multifunctional nanofactory."
Jun Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using Datura stramonium leaf extracts and investigate the antibacterial activity against selected bacterial strains. (Bioorganic chemistry, 2026, PMID 41730816): "Significant amounts of colorless extract-mediated ZnO nanoparticles were produced by calcining a mixture of aqueous leaf extracts of Datura stramonium solution..."