Zinc oxide nanoparticles for bioimaging and drug delivery

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have drawn the attention of researchers due to their biocompatibility and nontoxic nature. In addition, the safety aspect of ZnO has been approved by US Food and Drug Administration. Low polydispersity was observed through microscopic examination, which confirmed their uniform particle size distribution. ZnO NPs can be prepared using different methods, such as physical, chemical, and biological methods. ZnO NPs are being utilized in bioimaging because of their high stability and inherent photoluminescence properties. Apart from bioimaging, theses nanocarriers are also used for drug delivery in different diseases. Surface-modified ZnO NPs have also minimized the off-target toxic effects. However, ZnO NPs alone have demonstrated effective outcomes. The major focus of the present chapter is to explore the possible biomedical applications of ZnO NPs.