Unveiling anticancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities of novel synthesized bimetallic boron oxide-zinc oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Bimetallic nanoparticles have received much attention recently due to their multifunctional applications, and synergistic potential at low concentrations. In the current study, bimetallic boron oxide-zinc oxide nanoparticles (B2O3-ZnO NPs) were synthesized by an eco-friendly, and cost-effective method through the utilization of gum arabic in the presence of gamma irradiation. Characterization of the synthesized bimetallic B2O3-ZnO NPs revealed the successful synthesis of bimetallic NPs on the nano-scale, and good distribution, in addition to formation of a stable colloidal nano-solution. Furthermore, the bimetallic B2O3-ZnO NPs were assessed for anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The evaluation of the cytotoxicity of bimetallic B2O3-ZnO NPs on Vero and Wi38 normal cell lines illustrated that bimetallic B2O3-ZnO NPs are safe in use where IC50 was 384.5 and 569.2 μg ml−1, respectively. The bimetallic B2O3-ZnO NPs had anticancer activity against Caco 2 where IC50 was 80.1 μg ml−1. Furthermore, B2O3-ZnO NPs exhibited promising antibacterial activity against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis and S. aureus, where MICs were 125, 62.5, 125 and 62.5 μg ml−1 respectively. Likewise, B2O3-ZnO NPs had potential antifungal activity against C. albicans as unicellular fungi (MIC was 62.5 μg ml−1). Moreover, B2O3-ZnO NPs displayed antioxidant activity (IC50 was 102.6 μg ml−1). In conclusion, novel bimetallic B2O3-ZnO NPs were successfully synthesized using gum arabic under gamma radiation, where they displayed anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.