Enhancing the efficacy of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles by Beta-carotene conjugation for improved anti-microbial and anti-tumor therapy for Dental Application

The increasing prevalence of dental pathogens and oral cancer calls for new therapeutic agents. Nanoparticle (NPs) based tumor therapy enables precise targeting and controlled drug release, improving anti-cancer treatment efficacy while reducing systemic toxicity. Zinc oxide NPs (ZnO NPs) are notable in nanomedicine for their exceptional physicochemical and biological properties. This study synthesizes and characterizes beta-carotene-coated ZnO NPs (BT-ZnO NPs) for potential anti-cancer and antimicrobial applications, demonstrating significant efficacy against dental pathogens and oral cancer cells. Scanning Electron Microscopy, EDAX, UV, FTIR, XRD, and Zeta potential analysis of prepared BT-ZnO NPs revealed uniform flower-like crystalline structures with intricate morphology and an average particle size of 38.06 nm. FTIR spectra identified various functional groups, suggesting a complex organic compound coated with ZnO NPs. Zeta potential measurements showed pH-dependent surface charge variations, which are crucial for understanding colloidal stability. The antimicrobial activity was potent against dental pathogens, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 50 µg/mL highlighting significant inhibition. Molecular docking studies demonstrated strong binding affinities of BT to key receptor proteins of dental pathogens. BT-ZnO NPs exhibited notable antioxidant activity of 68%, comparable to ascorbic acid, and significant anti-inflammatory effects of 75.1% at 100 µg/mL. Cytotoxicity assays indicated a concentration-dependent suppression of KB cell proliferation, decreasing cell viability to 37.19%, and gene expression studies showed elevated P53 expression, suggesting a strong apoptotic response. These multifaceted properties underscore the potential of BT-ZnO NPs as an integrated therapeutic approach for dental healthcare and oncology.