Applications of Zinc Nanoparticles in Medical and Healthcare Fields

Nanoparticles (NPs) have received significant interest worldwide particularly by the synthesis of metals in the nanometer region. Metallic nanoparticles have been extensively studied for treatment and diagnosis of cancer widely. Zinc (Zn) has been used from decades owing to its excellent compatibility in humans, physical and chemical properties. Zn has been reported to be used as Zn metal or modified as oxides, silanes or sulphide. The advent of coupled quantum dots has infused intensive application especially in the field of cancer diagnostics. The synthesis of Zn NPs has been confirmed chemically but recently novel green synthesis has been given considerable importance to synthesize Zn as ZnO, ZnS or other modified precipitates. Researchers have also witnessed synthesis of uniform Zn or modified Zn nanoparticles as metabolic precipitates of many microbes mainly fungi and algae such as Aspergillus and Sargassum. The medical application of Zn Nanoparticles has expanded horizons. It has been reported as absorbers for harmful sun ultra violet rays and hence being incorporated in sunscreen creams and lotions. The antibacterial and antifungal effect of ZnO NPs has also been captured by many scientists. The major aspiration of researchers has been to exemplar the use of Zn and modified Zn NPs as anticancer agents. It was envisaged that Zn and modified Zn NPs as nanoprobes or Quantum Dots (QDs) can be favored for treatment, targeting and diagnosis of lung, breast, skin and many other cancer or tumors. The present review encompasses multidimensional applications of zinc and its salts for treatment and diagnosis, citing some patents and its application.