Publication

Abstract : The effectiveness and safety of nanomaterials (NMs) are essential for their use in healthcare. This study focuses on creating NPs with multifunctional antibacterial and anticancer properties to combat bacterial infections and cancer disease more effectively than traditional antibiotics. This study investigates the synthesis of Zr3O and chitosan (ch) coated zirconium oxide nanoparticles (chZrO NPs) using Bougainvillea glabra (B. glabra) plant extract through a green, one-pot precipitation method. The synthesized NPs were analyzed using various techniques. Their antibacterial properties are attributed to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), influenced by their size, large surface area, oxygen vacancies, ion release, and diffusion capabilities. The chZrO NPs showed superior antibacterial activity compared to Zr3O and chitosan alone, with effective inhibition against both Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus and B. subtilis) and Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa). Additionally, anticancer studies of chZrO NPs demonstrated significant activity against colon cancer HCT116 cells with C50 values of 4.98 μg/mL compared to chitosan and Zr3O with 9.62, 6.69 μg/mL, while biocompatibility tests on L929 cells confirmed their safety showing 93 % cell viability compared to ch and Zr3O. These findings suggest that chZrO NPs are promising candidates for future use in clinical and healthcare applications.