Biosynthesis and Characterization of Termites Wings Extract Derived Silver, Zinc, and Silver-Doped Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Antioxidant and Anticancer Activity

Abstract

Biowaste-derived nanoparticles (NPs) are gaining attention for their biocompatibility, environmental friendliness, and affordability. This study synthesized silver NPs (Ag NPs), zinc oxide NPs (ZnO NPs), and silver-doped zinc oxide NPs (Ag/ZnO NPs) using termite wing biowaste (Odontotermes obesus). The synthesized NPs were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM-EDX, XRD, and atomic force microscopy (AFM), confirming successful biosynthesis and purity. AFM provided 3D profiling of the average sizes of 28.4, 19.6, and 11 nm for Ag NPs, ZnO NPs, and Ag/ZnO NPs, respectively. Among these three NPs, Ag/ZnO NPs showed superior antioxidant activity in DPPH (86 ± 3.61%), ABTS (76 ± 1.5%), and nitric oxide assays (77 ± 1%). In vitro studies demonstrated their significant antibacterial and anticancer potential against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and HeLa cells, with >80% cell viability reduction at 100 µg/mL. These findings highlight the potential of Ag/ZnO NPs as antioxidants, antibacterial agents, and anticancer agents, warranting further in vivo studies for biomedical applications.