Effect of Ce3+ metal ions on the antibacterial and anticancer activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles prepared by coprecipitation method

Abstract

Objective: This study was undertaken to know about the antibacterial and anticancer activity of synthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs). Methods: The ZnO NPs and different concentration of Ce3+ (0.05M, 0.10M, and 0.15M)-doped ZnO NPs were synthesized by coprecipitation method. The synthesized nanoparticles were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and HRSEM. The antibacterial studies were performed against a set of bacterial strains as Gram-positive bacteria (Streptococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumonia) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Shigella dysenteriae) bacteria. The cytotoxic effect of ZnO and Ce-doped ZnO was analyzed in cultured (A549) human lung cancer cell line. Result: The XRD studies showed the wurtzite structure of nanoparticles. HRSEM analysis showed the spherical shape of ZnO and Ce-doped ZnO. The Zn0.85Ce0.15O NPs possessed more antibacterial effect as compared to the other ZnO and Ce-doped ZnO NPs. The Zn0.90Ce0.10O NPs created the highest cytotoxicity activity. With respect to cell death, as low a concentration of 68±0.05 μg/ml of Zn0.90Ce0.10O NPs was good enough to cause loss of viability of 50% of the cell as compared to ZnO and Zn1-xCexO (x=0.05 and 0.15) NPs. Conclusion: Results from this work concluded that Zn0.85Ce0.15O and Zn0.90Ce0.10O NPs possess antibacterial and anticancer activity, respectively.