Synthesis, characterization, and pharmacological evaluation of zinc oxide nanoparticles formulation

• Published in: Toxicology and industrial health 2018-11, Vol.34 (11), p.753-763
• Main Authors: Hussain, Zulfia, Khan, Junaid Ali, Anwar, Hafeez, Andleeb, Naila, Murtaza, Sehrish, Ashar, Ambreen, Arif, Iram
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alanine; Alanine transaminase; Animals; Aspartate transaminase; Carbon Tetrachloride; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - pathology; Creatinine; Crystallites; Crystals; Energy gap; Evaluation; Female; Fibrosis; Food production; Immunomodulation; In vivo methods and tests; Kidney - drug effects; Kidney - pathology; Kidneys; Liver; Liver - drug effects; Liver - pathology; Lotions; Male; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Metal Nanoparticles - toxicity; Mice; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Optical properties; Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology; Scanning electron microscopy; Skin; Spectroscopy; Synthesis; Transaminase; Urea; Wurtzite; X ray spectra; X-ray diffraction; Zinc; Zinc oxide; Zinc Oxide - chemical synthesis; Zinc Oxide - chemistry; Zinc Oxide - toxicity; Zinc oxides
• ISSN: 0748-2337; 1477-0393
• DOI: 10.1177/0748233718793508

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are being used extensively in manufacturing skin lotions and food products and in various biological and pharmaceutical industries because of their immunomodulatory and antimicrobial properties. In this study, ZnONPs were synthesized by a precipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy to investigate their structural, morphological, and optical properties. For in vivo evaluation, 40 healthy albino mice were randomly allocated to four equal groups among which the first one was the control group, while the second, third, and fourth were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), a blend of CCl4 and ZnONPs, and ZnONPs alone, respectively, for 21 days. The XRD analysis confirmed hexagonal wurtzite type structures having an average crystallite size of 41.54 nm. The morphology of ZnONPs analyzed through SEM showed uniform distribution of the grains and shape of the synthesized oxide. The energy band gap of the ZnONPs was found to be 3.498 eV. Hepatic and renal damage following CCl4 administration was apparent after 14 days and was increased at the 21st day, showing nodular fibrotic masses in the liver and bumpy surfaces in the kidney as observed by gross and histological examination. Coadministration of ZnONPs (15 mg/kg b.w. intragastrically 5 days a week) significantly prevented the CCl4-dependent increases in alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, creatinine, and urea levels, suggesting a protective potential of ZnONPs.