Skip to content
2000
Volume 26, Issue 3
  • ISSN: 1871-5206
  • E-ISSN: 1875-5992

Abstract

Introduction

Chemotherapy faces limitations such as toxicity and resistance, necessitating novel cancer treatments. Green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have attracted attention for their safety, biocompatibility, and therapeutic potential. This study investigates the anticancer efficacy of ZnO-NPs synthesized using the extracellular matrix of against colorectal cancer cell lines ().

Methods

ZnO-NPs were synthesized extracellularly using fungal extract. The nanoparticles were characterized through UV-Vis spectrophotometry, showing an absorbance peak at 375 nm, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which determined their morphology and size. The anticancer activity was evaluated using cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were assessed to understand the mechanism of cytotoxicity. studies were proposed for further validation.

Results

The synthesized ZnO-NPs appeared pale white and exhibited a characteristic absorbance at 375 nm. SEM revealed spherical particles ranging from 35–150 nm. The ZnO-NPs showed strong anticancer activity with an IC value of 40.6 µg/mL. ROS levels increased significantly in treated cells, while the MMP decreased to 77.25% compared to 100% in controls.

Discussion

ZnO-NPs exerted cytotoxic effects ROS generation and mitochondrial dysfunction. These results underscore the nanoparticles’ ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells through oxidative stress pathways.

Conclusion

Biogenically synthesized ZnO-NPs from show promise as eco-friendly anticancer agents. Further studies are recommended to confirm their therapeutic potential.

© 2026 Bentham Science Publishers
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/acamc/10.2174/0118715206395334250707063019
2025-08-27
2026-03-05

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/acamc/10.2174/0118715206395334250707063019
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. BrayF. LaversanneM. SungH. FerlayJ. SiegelR.L. SoerjomataramI. JemalA. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries.CA Cancer J. Clin.202474322926310.3322/caac.21834 38572751
     [Google Scholar]
  2. MorganE. ArnoldM. GiniA. LorenzoniV. CabasagC.J. LaversanneM. VignatJ. FerlayJ. MurphyN. BrayF. Global burden of colorectal cancer in 2020 and 2040: incidence and mortality estimates from GLOBOCAN.Gut202372233834410.1136/gutjnl‑2022‑327736 36604116
     [Google Scholar]
  3. RoshandelG. Ghasemi-KebriaF. MalekzadehR. Colorectal cancer: epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention.Cancers2024168153010.3390/cancers16081530 38672612
     [Google Scholar]
  4. AshiqueS. BhowmickM. PalR. KhatoonH. KumarP. SharmaH. GargA. KumarS. DasU. Multi drug resistance in Colorectal Cancer- approaches to overcome, advancements and future success.Adv. Cancer Biol. Metastasis20241010011410.1016/j.adcanc.2024.100114
     [Google Scholar]
  5. BhardwajU. MukherjeeS. AliS. SiddiquiA.J. IqbalD. AlmalkiS.G. AlsagabyS.A. JahanS. AnsariU.A. 19 Novel Phytochemicals Targeting the Signaling Pathways of Anticancer Stem Cell.FL, USACRC Press Boca Raton2023
     [Google Scholar]
  6. LvC. HuangY. WangQ. WangC. HuH. ZhangH. LuD. JiangH. ShenR. ZhangW. Ainsliadimer A induces ROS-mediated apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells via directly targeting peroxiredoxin 1 and 2.Cell Chem. Biol.202330329530710.1016/j.chembiol.2023.02.003
     [Google Scholar]
  7. WangG.Y. ZhangL. GengY.D. WangB. FengX.J. ChenZ.L. WeiW. JiangL. β-Elemene induces apoptosis and autophagy in colorectal cancer cells through regulating the ROS/AMPK/mTOR pathway.Chin. J. Nat. Med.202220192110.1016/S1875‑5364(21)60118‑8 35101253
     [Google Scholar]
  8. LiG. FangS. ShaoX. LiY. TongQ. KongB. ChenL. WangY. YangJ. YuH. XieX. ZhangJ. Curcumin reverses NNMT-induced 5-fluorouracil resistance via increasing ROS and cell cycle arrest in colorectal cancer cells.Biomolecules2021119129510.3390/biom11091295 34572508
     [Google Scholar]
  9. KhayatM.T. ZarkaM.A. El-TelbanyD.F.A. El-HalawanyA.M. KutbiH.I. ElkhatibW.F. NoreddinA.M. KhayyatA.N. El-TelbanyR.F.A. HammadS.F. Abdel-NaimA.B. AlolayanE.M. Al-SawahliM.M. Intensification of resveratrol cytotoxicity, pro-apoptosis, oxidant potentials in human colorectal carcinoma HCT-116 cells using zein nanoparticles.Sci. Rep.20221211523510.1038/s41598‑022‑18557‑2 36075939
     [Google Scholar]
  10. MaddahA. ZiamajidiN. KhosraviH. DaneshH. AbbasalipourkabirR. Gold nanoparticles induce apoptosis in HCT-116 colon cancer cell line.Mol. Biol. Rep.20224987863787110.1007/s11033‑022‑07616‑6 35729479
     [Google Scholar]
  11. ShamsaeiS. GetsoM. AhmadikiaK. YarahmadiM. FarahaniH.E. AslaniR. MohammadzadeA.S. RaissiV. SoleimaniA. ArghavanB. KaramiS. MohseniM. MohseniM.S. RaiesiO. Recent findings on the role of fungal products in the treatment of cancer.Clin. Transl. Oncol.202123219720410.1007/s12094‑020‑02428‑1 32557335
     [Google Scholar]
  12. AyonN.J. EarpC.E. GuptaR. ButunF.A. ClementsA.E. LeeA.G. DainkoD. RobeyM.T. KhinM. MardianaL. LongcakeA. Rangel-GrimaldoM. HallM.J. ProbertM.R. BurdetteJ.E. KellerN.P. RajaH.A. OberliesN.H. KelleherN.L. CaesarL.K. Bioactivity-driven fungal metabologenomics identifies antiproliferative stemphone analogs and their biosynthetic gene cluster.Metabolomics20242059010.1007/s11306‑024‑02153‑8 39095664
     [Google Scholar]
  13. BaghaniM. HabibollahiH. Es-haghiA. Stabilization and enhanced anticancer activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles functionalized with chitosan and terephthalic acid.J. Sol-Gel Sci. Technol.202511710.1007/s10971‑025‑06741‑5
     [Google Scholar]
  14. SadighianS. Metal and metal oxide–based nanostructures for drug delivery.Medical Nanobiotechnology.Elsevier202512714510.1016/B978‑0‑443‑21507‑0.00012‑X
     [Google Scholar]
  15. MajeedS. DanishM. IsmailM.H.B. AnsariM.T. IbrahimM.N.M. Anticancer and apoptotic activity of biologically synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles against human colon cancer HCT-116 cell line- in vitro study.Sustain. Chem. Pharm.20191410017910.1016/j.scp.2019.100179
     [Google Scholar]
  16. FatimaF. PathakN. SrivastavaD. VermaS.R. Molecular detection and exploration of diversity among fungal consortium involved in phosphate solubilization.Geomicrobiol. J.2021381293510.1080/01490451.2020.1807657
     [Google Scholar]
  17. PavaniK. BalakrishnaK. CheemarlaN. Biosynthesis of zinc nanoparticles by Aspergillus species.Int. J. Nanotechnol. Appl.2011512736
     [Google Scholar]
  18. RaghavendraV.B. ShankarS. GovindappaM. PugazhendhiA. SharmaM. NayakaS.C. Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) for effective degradation of dye, polyethylene and antibacterial performance in waste water treatment.J. Inorg. Organomet. Polym. Mater.202232261463010.1007/s10904‑021‑02142‑7
     [Google Scholar]
  19. SumanthB. LakshmeeshaT.R. AnsariM.A. AlzohairyM.A. UdayashankarA.C. ShobhaB. NiranjanaS.R. SrinivasC. AlmatroudiA. Mycogenic synthesis of extracellular zinc oxide nanoparticles from Xylaria acuta and its nanoantibiotic potential.Int. J. Nanomedicine2020158519853610.2147/IJN.S271743 33173290
     [Google Scholar]
  20. MohanA.C. RenjanadeviB. Preparation of zinc oxide nanoparticles and its characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).Procedia Technol.20162476176610.1016/j.protcy.2016.05.078
     [Google Scholar]
  21. FatimaF. BajpaiP. PathakN. SinghS. PriyaS. VermaS.R. Antimicrobial and immunomodulatory efficacy of extracellularly synthesized silver and gold nanoparticles by a novel phosphate solubilizing fungus Bipolaris tetramera.BMC Microbiol.20151515210.1186/s12866‑015‑0391‑y 25881309
     [Google Scholar]
  22. SivandzadeF. BhaleraoA. CuculloL. Analysis of the mitochondrial membrane potential using the cationic JC-1 dye as a sensitive fluorescent probe.Bio Protoc.201991e3128e312810.21769/BioProtoc.3128 30687773
     [Google Scholar]
  23. AcharyaD. SatapathyS. SomuP. ParidaU.K. MishraG. Apoptotic effect and anticancer activity of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles from marine algae Chaetomorpha linum extract against human colon cancer cell HCT-116.Biol. Trace Elem. Res.202119951812182210.1007/s12011‑020‑02304‑7 32743762
     [Google Scholar]
  24. SethR. MeenaA. Enzymes-based nanomaterial synthesis: an eco-friendly and green synthesis approach.Clean Technol. Environ. Policy202412410.1007/s10098‑024‑02854‑7
     [Google Scholar]
  25. SunB. LuoC. BillsG.F. LiJ. HuangP. WangL. JiangX. ChenA.J. Four new species of Aspergillus subgenus Nidulantes from China.J. Fungi (Basel)2022811120510.3390/jof8111205 36422028
     [Google Scholar]
  26. FoudaA. AwadM.A. AL-Faifi, Z.E.; Gad, M.E.; Al-Khalaf, A.A.; Yahya, R.; Hamza, M.F. Aspergillus flavus-mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and evaluation of their antibacterial, anti-candida, acaricides, and photocatalytic activities.Catalysts202212546210.3390/catal12050462
     [Google Scholar]
  27. AchilonuC.C. KumarP. SwartH. RoosW. MaraisG.J. Zinc Oxide: Gold nanoparticles (ZnO: Au NPs) exhibited antifungal efficacy against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus candidus.Bionanoscience2024115
     [Google Scholar]
  28. RamzyG.M. KoesslerT. DucreyE. McKeeT. RisF. BuchsN. Rubbia-BrandtL. DietrichP.Y. Nowak-SliwinskaP. Patient-derived in vitro models for drug discovery in colorectal carcinoma.Cancers2020126142310.3390/cancers12061423 32486365
     [Google Scholar]
  29. AhlamA.A. ShanibaV.S. JayasreeP.R. ManishK.P.R. Spondias pinnata (lf) Kurz leaf extract derived zinc oxide nanoparticles induce dual modes of apoptotic-necrotic death in HCT 116 and K562 cells.Biol. Trace Elem. Res.202119951778180110.1007/s12011‑020‑02303‑8 32761516
     [Google Scholar]
  30. ZhangC. YangH.Y. GaoL. BaiM.Z. FuW.K. HuangC.F. MiN.N. MaH.D. LuY.W. JiangN.Z. TianL. CaiT. LinY.Y. ZhengX.X. GaoK. ChenJ.J. MengW.B. Lanatoside C decelerates proliferation and induces apoptosis through inhibition of STAT3 and ROS-mediated mitochondrial membrane potential transformation in cholangiocarcinoma.Front. Pharmacol.202314109891510.3389/fphar.2023.1098915 37397486
     [Google Scholar]
  31. AnjumS. HashimM. MalikS.A. KhanM. LorenzoJ.M. AbbasiB.H. HanoC. Recent advances in zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) for cancer diagnosis, target drug delivery, and treatment.Cancers (Basel)20211318457010.3390/cancers13184570 34572797
     [Google Scholar]
  32. ShanmugamK. SellappanS. AlahmadiT.A. AlmoallimH.S. NatarajanN. VeeraraghavanV.P. Green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles from Cinnamomum verum bark extract inhibited cell growth and induced caspase-mediated apoptosis in oral cancer KB cells.J. Drug Deliv. Sci. Technol.20227410357710.1016/j.jddst.2022.103577
     [Google Scholar]
  33. KhanM.J. AhmadA. KhanM.A. SiddiquiS. Zinc oxide nanoparticle induces apoptosis in human epidermoid carcinoma cells through reactive oxygen species and DNA degradation.Biol. Trace Elem. Res.202119962172218110.1007/s12011‑020‑02323‑4 32840725
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Ahmadi ShadmehriA. NamvarF. A review on green synthesis, cytotoxicity mechanism and antibacterial activity of Zno-NPs.J. Res. Appl. Basic Med. Sci.2020612331
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/acamc/10.2174/0118715206395334250707063019
Loading
Evaluation of Anticancer Potential in Human Colorectal Carcinoma HCT-116 Cells by Fungal-Mediated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 26, 313 (2026); https://doi.org/10.2174/0118715206395334250707063019
/content/journals/acamc/10.2174/0118715206395334250707063019
/content/journals/acamc/10.2174/0118715206395334250707063019
Loading

Data & Media loading...


  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): Anticancer; Aspergillus biplanus; MMP; ROS; tumour; Zinc-oxide nanoparticles

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test