Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Opportunities and Challenges in Veterinary Sciences

Abstract

Nanotechnology has opened up new vistas for applications in almost all the disciplines of veterinary and animal sciences. Zinc oxide (ZnO) has been used as an alternative to antibiotics in animal feed. It has also been widely used for wound healing and various skin disorders. Recently ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted attention owing to their unique features. There can be numerous applications of ZnO NPs due to their antibacterial, antineoplastic, wound healing, ultraviolet scattering and angiogenic properties. These have also been used to promote tissue repair, as a food preservative and as feed additive. This paper reviews the recent developments in ZnO NPs research and its potential for application in animal health and production.