Anticancer activity of fungal l-asparaginase conjugated with zinc oxide nanoparticles

Demand for developing novel delivery system for cancer treatment has increased due to the side effects present in intravenous injection of l -asparaginase. Nanoparticles are used for delivering the drugs to its destination in cancer cure. Nanobiocomposite of zinc oxide nanoparticles conjugated with l -asparaginase was produced by Aspergillus terreus and was confirmed using maximum UV–Vis absorption at 340 nm in the present work. The presence of functional groups like OH, C–H, –C=N and C=O on the surface of nanobiocomposite was found from Fourier transform infrared spectrum analysis. Size of the produced nanocomposite was found in the range of 28–63 nm using scanning electron microscope. The crystalline nature of the synthesized nanobiocomposites was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The presence of zinc oxide on synthesized nanobiocomposite was confirmed by energy dispersive spectrum analysis. The anti-cancerous nature of the synthesized zinc oxide conjugated l -asparaginase nanobiocomposite on MCF-7 cell line was studied using MTT assay. The viability of the MCF-7 cells was decreased to 35.02 % when it was treated with l -asparaginase conjugated zinc oxide nanobiocomposite. Hence it is proved that the synthesized nanobiocomposites of zinc oxide conjugated l -asparaginase has good anti-cancerous activity.