SUSTAINED ANTICANCER EFFECT BY NARINGIN-LOADED ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES IN HUMAN LUNG ADENOCARCINOMA A549 CELLS

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to design naringin-loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles (Nar-ZnO NPs) and evaluate the formulated nanoparticles (NPs) for their antioxidant and anticancer potential. Methods: Naringin-loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles (Nar-ZnO NPs) were prepared using a modified sol-gel method with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a capping agent. Subsequently, were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), powder X-ray diffraction (PW-XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Furthermore, the naringin-loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles (Nar-ZnO NPs) were evaluated for their in vitro free radical scavenging activity using antioxidant assays and inhibition of lipid peroxidation potential using the altered thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS) test. The cytotoxic effect of naringin-loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles (Nar-ZnO NPs) on the non-transformed Vero cell line and lung cancer A549 cell line was investigated using the (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) MTT assay. Apoptosis study was conducted using the Acridine orange/Ethidium bromide (AO/EB) double staining assay, while propidium iodide (PI) stain was utilized to observe apoptotic morphological changes. Results: The prepared naringin-loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles (Nar-ZnO NPs) were smooth and hexagonal, with an average particle size of 500 nm. The antioxidant assays demonstrated that the naringin-loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles (Nar-ZnO NPs) and ascorbic acid exhibited comparable free radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation activity. In MTT assay, the naringin-loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles (Nar-ZnO NPs) displayed IC₅₀ values of 1014.05 µg/ml for Vero cell lines and 317.51 µg/ml for A549 cells, highlighting their influence on cell viability. Remarkably, treatment of A549 cells with the Nar-ZnO NPs resulted in dose-dependent apoptotic morphological changes, as observed through (AO/EB) double staining assay and propidium iodide (PI) stain. Conclusion: The study findings revealed that the naringin-loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles (Nar-ZnO NPs) displayed dose-dependent free radical scavenging activity, significant inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and notable anticancer properties against A549 cells.