Unveiling anticancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities of novel synthesized bimetallic boron oxide–zinc oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Bimetallic nanoparticles have received much attention recently due to their multifunctional applications, and synergistic potential at low concentrations. In the current study, bimetallic boron oxide–zinc oxide nanoparticles (B₂O₃–ZnO NPs) were synthesized by an eco-friendly, and cost-effective method through the utilization of gum arabic in the presence of gamma irradiation. Characterization of the synthesized bimetallic B₂O₃–ZnO NPs revealed the successful synthesis of bimetallic NPs on the nano-scale, and good distribution, in addition to formation of a stable colloidal nano-solution. Furthermore, the bimetallic B₂O₃–ZnO NPs were assessed for anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The evaluation of the cytotoxicity of bimetallic B₂O₃–ZnO NPs on Vero and Wi38 normal cell lines illustrated that bimetallic B₂O₃–ZnO NPs are safe in use where IC₅₀ was 384.5 and 569.2 μg ml⁻¹, respectively. The bimetallic B₂O₃–ZnO NPs had anticancer activity against Caco 2 where IC₅₀ was 80.1 μg ml⁻¹. Furthermore, B₂O₃–ZnO NPs exhibited promising antibacterial activity against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis and S. aureus, where MICs were 125, 62.5, 125 and 62.5 μg ml⁻¹ respectively. Likewise, B₂O₃–ZnO NPs had potential antifungal activity against C. albicans as unicellular fungi (MIC was 62.5 μg ml⁻¹). Moreover, B₂O₃–ZnO NPs displayed antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ was 102.6 μg ml⁻¹). In conclusion, novel bimetallic B₂O₃–ZnO NPs were successfully synthesized using gum arabic under gamma radiation, where they displayed anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.