ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES FOR LIVER CANCER: ADVANCES IN SYNTHESIS, MECHANISMS, DELIVERY, AND TRANSLATIONAL CHALLENGES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64013/bbasrjlifess.v2026i1.57Abstract
The usage of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles as multifunctional therapeutic drugs for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been increasingly gaining recognition due to the cytotoxic nature of these nanomaterials, possibilities of surface functionalization, and their capacity for incorporation into other delivery systems. The current article highlights progress made (in years 2023-2025) in environmentally friendly and engineered production of ZnO nanoparticles, including plant-based and doped versions thereof, explains the molecular mechanisms of antitumor activity of ZnO NPs involving generation of ROS, release of Zn2+, apoptosis, and ferroptosis induction, and immunomodulation, and describes novel nano-formulations based on ZnO NPs, such as pH-sensitive vehicles, films, scaffolds, and quantum dots. The present paper also touches upon the problem of the toxicity of ZnO NPs and challenges in moving this technology from bench to clinic.
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