Eco-friendly fabrication of ZnO nanocomposites using Lepidium didymium and polymer-assisted CTAB/PEG: A multifunctional approach for enhanced biomedical applications

This work illustrates the environmentally benign fabrication of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using Lepidium didymium to enhance their effectiveness in various biological applications. The use of extracts from the plant as reactive constituents in nanoparticle fabrication presents a cost-effective, scalable, and eco-friendly methodology, wherein plant-based substances serve as stabilizing and reducing agents. Apart from this polymer which acts as the surfactant is capped with the green synthesized ZnO. In this study, green ZnO was synthesized by utilizing CTAB and PEG, as a polymeric surfactant which led to a notable reduction in nanoparticle size and increased stability. Stearic hindrance, which keeps NPs stable, is caused by a mechanism in which polymeric chains build a strong covalent bond with their neighboring chains. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) were utilized and this helps to analyze the synthesized ZnO and its nanocomposites produced through environmentally friendly methods. The assessed ZnO nanoparticles demonstrated versatility in biomedical applications, as indicated by their evaluation for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and characteristics that promote wound healing. The cytotoxic efficacy of green-synthesized ZnO nanocomposites on the HepG2 cell line was assessed utilizing the MTT assay method. The analysis produced the subsequent IC50 value: The concentrations of 69.91 μg/mL for green synthesized ZnO and 83.05 μg/mL for CTAB-assisted ZnO nanocomposite indicate detrimental effects on the evolution of the HepG2 cell line. The efficacy of the green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles and ZnO nanocomposite for wound healing were assessed on L929 cells, with cipladine as a reference standard. This study highlights the effectiveness and sustainability of green fabrication methods in producing functional nanomaterials for various healthcare applications.