Biogenic Metal and Metal Oxides Nanoparticles as Anticancer Agent: A Review

Abstract Herein this review we have summarized a number of cytotoxic studies which have been done using various biosynthesized metal nanoparticles (MNPs) and metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs) on different cancer cell lines. Plants can serve as a good candidate to provide natural surfactants for the green approach in the preparation of nanoparticles. Numerous bio-molecules are present in the plants. Also, numerous plant extract-based MNPs and MONPs have been synthesized and used in several fields of applications particularly in biomedicine. This property can be attributed because of their low cost, biocompatibility and favourable to the environment. In the past few years, the utilisation of these biogenic nanoparticles has in-creased tremendously particularly in cancer therapy. These biogenic nanoparticles considered as an excellent tool for cancer diagnosis and drug delivery at the tumour site preferentially. By utilising the unique properties of nanoparticles and antioxidant and antitumor nature of plants, these biosynthesised nanoparticles selectively destroy the tumour cells and do not harm the normal healthy cells. In this review, we have compiled the most significant results obtained by the biosynthesized MNPs and MONPs like silver (Ag), gold (Au), Fe 2 O 3 /Fe 3 O 4 , ZnO, and CuO respectively.