Elemental zinc to zinc nanoparticles: is ZnO NPs crucial for life? Synthesis, toxicological, and environmental concerns
The semi-conducting material zinc is one of the essential trace elements for humans, is a co-factor of more than 300 enzymes, and plays an important role in maintaining vital cellular functions. Deficiency of zinc may lead to cancer initiation; however, a high concentration also has toxic effects th...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
De Gruyter
2018-10-01
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| Series: | Nanotechnology Reviews |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1515/ntrev-2018-0067 |
| _version_ | 1818909327124070400 |
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| author | Ali Attarad Phull Abdul-Rehman Zia Muhammad |
| author_facet | Ali Attarad Phull Abdul-Rehman Zia Muhammad |
| author_sort | Ali Attarad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The semi-conducting material zinc is one of the essential trace elements for humans, is a co-factor of more than 300 enzymes, and plays an important role in maintaining vital cellular functions. Deficiency of zinc may lead to cancer initiation; however, a high concentration also has toxic effects that might be life threatening. The toxicity can be addressed by the disequilibrium of zinc-mediated proteins and oxidative stress that produce nascent oxygen, hydroxyl radicals, and other reactive oxygen species. Zinc-based nanoparticles (NPs) are among the most important and multifunctional compounds. Zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs exhibit attractive antimicrobial and photocatalytic properties due to the smaller particle size and increased particle surface reactivity. Further, these are more biocompatible compared to other metallic NPs, easily synthesizable, and have high selectivity, enhanced cytotoxicity, and are a promising anticancer agent. However, some of the pertinent concerns regarding nano-zinc still needs to be clarified. Current research also demonstrates their usage in wastewater treatment, textile, medicine, etc. This review covers the importance of zinc for living systems and its NPs, with more emphasis on ZnO NPs. A comprehensive overview of ZnO NPs, their synthesis, characterization techniques, crystal structure, properties, and brief industrial applications are presented. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:25:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ef0436074a5463aa0a7d04d3d71eab4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2191-9089 2191-9097 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:25:09Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | De Gruyter |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanotechnology Reviews |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ef0436074a5463aa0a7d04d3d71eab42022-12-21T20:03:31ZengDe GruyterNanotechnology Reviews2191-90892191-90972018-10-017541344110.1515/ntrev-2018-0067Elemental zinc to zinc nanoparticles: is ZnO NPs crucial for life? Synthesis, toxicological, and environmental concernsAli Attarad0Phull Abdul-Rehman1Zia Muhammad2Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, PakistanDepartment of Biochemistry, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh 66020, PakistanDepartment of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, PakistanThe semi-conducting material zinc is one of the essential trace elements for humans, is a co-factor of more than 300 enzymes, and plays an important role in maintaining vital cellular functions. Deficiency of zinc may lead to cancer initiation; however, a high concentration also has toxic effects that might be life threatening. The toxicity can be addressed by the disequilibrium of zinc-mediated proteins and oxidative stress that produce nascent oxygen, hydroxyl radicals, and other reactive oxygen species. Zinc-based nanoparticles (NPs) are among the most important and multifunctional compounds. Zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs exhibit attractive antimicrobial and photocatalytic properties due to the smaller particle size and increased particle surface reactivity. Further, these are more biocompatible compared to other metallic NPs, easily synthesizable, and have high selectivity, enhanced cytotoxicity, and are a promising anticancer agent. However, some of the pertinent concerns regarding nano-zinc still needs to be clarified. Current research also demonstrates their usage in wastewater treatment, textile, medicine, etc. This review covers the importance of zinc for living systems and its NPs, with more emphasis on ZnO NPs. A comprehensive overview of ZnO NPs, their synthesis, characterization techniques, crystal structure, properties, and brief industrial applications are presented.https://doi.org/10.1515/ntrev-2018-0067biologicscytotoxicitynanoparticles (nps)photocatalysiszinc oxide (zno) |
| spellingShingle | Ali Attarad Phull Abdul-Rehman Zia Muhammad Elemental zinc to zinc nanoparticles: is ZnO NPs crucial for life? Synthesis, toxicological, and environmental concerns Nanotechnology Reviews biologics cytotoxicity nanoparticles (nps) photocatalysis zinc oxide (zno) |
| title | Elemental zinc to zinc nanoparticles: is ZnO NPs crucial for life? Synthesis, toxicological, and environmental concerns |
| title_full | Elemental zinc to zinc nanoparticles: is ZnO NPs crucial for life? Synthesis, toxicological, and environmental concerns |
| title_fullStr | Elemental zinc to zinc nanoparticles: is ZnO NPs crucial for life? Synthesis, toxicological, and environmental concerns |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elemental zinc to zinc nanoparticles: is ZnO NPs crucial for life? Synthesis, toxicological, and environmental concerns |
| title_short | Elemental zinc to zinc nanoparticles: is ZnO NPs crucial for life? Synthesis, toxicological, and environmental concerns |
| title_sort | elemental zinc to zinc nanoparticles is zno nps crucial for life synthesis toxicological and environmental concerns |
| topic | biologics cytotoxicity nanoparticles (nps) photocatalysis zinc oxide (zno) |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1515/ntrev-2018-0067 |
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