Preparation, characterization and biological assays of zinc oxide and selenium nanoparticles for biomedical applications

• Grant number: 22/13444-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Amedea Barozzi Seabra
• Grantee: Leonardo Longuini da Silva
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nanotechnology has been drawing the attention of the scientific community due to the properties that these nanomaterials have. Nanoparticles based on metals and metalloids, especially zinc oxide (ZnO NPs) and selenium (Se NPs) nanoparticles, are prominent in the biomedical and, more recently, agricultural areas, as they have potent antimicrobial and antitumor properties. The use of nanoparticles with antibacterial potential is of great interest since microorganisms have difficulties in developing resistance mechanisms to these nanomaterials, which does not occur with some antibiotics. In this work, the ZnO NPs and Se NPs will be synthesized through green routes using preferentially plant extracts. The prepared nanoparticles will be characterized by different techniques: UV-Vis spectrophotometry; vibrational spectroscopy; X-ray diffraction; atomic force microscopy; correlation spectroscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis; Zn and Se diffusion kinetics using a vertical diffusion cell; evaluation of cytotoxicity and antimicrobial action. With this work, we hope to demonstrate the antimicrobial action of nanoparticles synthesized by green pathways, in a range of concentrations where there is no toxicity to mammalian cells.