Abstract
In the present investigation, an innovative method was evolved for the synthesis of egg albumin doped Zinc oxide nanoparticles (Ea-ZnO NPs). The biophysical characterizations of Ea-ZnO NPs were assessed by UV–Vis., FT-IR, XRD, TEM and DLS analysis. UV spectrum exhibited a distinctive absorption peak at 310 nm. The synthesized Ea-ZnO NPs materialized as a spherical and hexagonal platelet-like structure with 20–60 nm in diameter through TEM. The anticancer and biocompatibility potential of Ea-ZnO NPs was evaluated against MCF-7 cancer cell line. Anticancer activity of Ea-ZnO NPs on MCF-7 by MTT assay having significant cytotoxicity and proportionately decreased cellular viability. Gene expression study (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis indicated that the Ea-ZnO NPs stimulated ROS, which in turn up the regulated transcription of mRNA levels of apoptotic genes such as p53, bcl-2, caspase-3 and caspase-9 while significantly downregulated the expression of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2. The outcome deliberates that Ea-ZnO NPs can specifically repress the gene expression of MCF-7 by ROS damage and cytotoxicity intervened cell death. Overall, the Ea-ZnO NPs can be a potential drug for anticancer therapy.
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•Biosynthesis of Zinc oxide Nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using egg albumin (Ea).•The particle size of Ea-ZnONPs occurs as 20–60 nm in size.•Ea-ZnONPs observed as single crystals with spherical platelet assembly.•Ea-ZnONPs influenced the ROS causing Apoptosis in MCF-7 cells.•Ea-ZnONPs proved as a promising drug candidate for breast cancer therapeutics.