Detoxication and Theranostic Aspects of Biosynthesised Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery

Bioactive materials obtained from plant bio-resources offer immense attention for development and production of nanotechnology enabled products for biomedical applications. In the present study, Ficus hispida leaf extract (FHLE) was used as a stabilising agent for the environmentally benign synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) which were investigated for prospective versatile applications (anticancer and photocatalytic activities). The formation of ZnO-NPs was confirmed by UV–visible spectra. Wurtzite (hexagonal) form of the herb-assisted synthesised ZnO-NPs with particle size ranging from 20 to 200 nm was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. In vitro analysis was carried out against Dalton’s lymphoma ascites (DLA) cell lines by trypan blue assay, the results revealed 96% inhibition at concentration of 200 µg ml −1 , and the photodegradation experiments carried out for degradation of Congo red revealed complete degradation of the dye after 70 min of exposure to UV light.