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<p>Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have gained attention for their anticancer and antimicrobial activity. Our study highlights a novel anti-virulence strategy against multidrug-resistant pathogens by showing that ZnO-NPs suppress bacterial virulence and quorum-sensing genes (<i>rmpA</i>,<i> fnbA</i>,<i> cna</i>, and <i>LuxS</i>) at sub-MIC levels. In this study, we synthesized ZnO-NPs using the chemical co-precipitation process, we confirmed their characteristics with the techniques TEM, XRD, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and measuring their zeta potential. ZnO-NPs are almost spherical, 30 nanometers in size, with a notable UV absorption at 375&#xa0;nm and a zeta potential of -9.25 mV. ZnO-NPs showed impressive inhibition zones, especially against <i>E. coli</i>, with a zone size of 30.33&#xa0;mm. The MIC of ZnO-NPs varied, with <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> needing the highest concentration at 500&#xa0;µg/mL, while <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> needed 62.5 and 125&#xa0;µg/mL, respectively. We also looked at how these particles affect cancer cells and found they reduced their growth in a dose-dependent way, with IC50 values of around 79 and 151&#xa0;µg/mL for MCF-7 and HepG2 cells. Interestingly, when we examined the bacteria at the genetic level, we saw that ZnO-NPs at 62.5&#xa0;µg/mL resulted in down-expression of key virulence genes like <i>rmpA</i>,<i> fnbA</i>, and <i>cna</i> to about 60% of normal levels, and the quorum-sensing gene <i>luxS</i> to 80%. This suggests that even at lower doses, the particles can weaken bacterial ability to cause disease without being fully bactericidal. Overall, our results emphasize how ZnO-NPs can be both antibacterial and anticancer agents, especially by targeting gene expression to boost their effectiveness.</p>

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Physicochemical optimization of zinc oxide nanoparticles enhances their antimicrobial and anticancer activities via RmpA, fnbA, cna, and LuxS gene expression suppression

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月2日

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  • Mohamed khedr,
  • Ahmed N. Emam,
  • Mohamed Soliman Dora,
  • Yasein Fadel Awadalla,
  • Mostafa M. Al-Banna,
  • Abdullah M. Nagib,
  • Abdulrahman Hasib,
  • Abdelrhman M. Abdelaziz,
  • Loay A. Al-Dager,
  • Amer Morsy Abdelaziz

摘要

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have gained attention for their anticancer and antimicrobial activity. Our study highlights a novel anti-virulence strategy against multidrug-resistant pathogens by showing that ZnO-NPs suppress bacterial virulence and quorum-sensing genes (rmpA, fnbA, cna, and LuxS) at sub-MIC levels. In this study, we synthesized ZnO-NPs using the chemical co-precipitation process, we confirmed their characteristics with the techniques TEM, XRD, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and measuring their zeta potential. ZnO-NPs are almost spherical, 30 nanometers in size, with a notable UV absorption at 375 nm and a zeta potential of -9.25 mV. ZnO-NPs showed impressive inhibition zones, especially against E. coli, with a zone size of 30.33 mm. The MIC of ZnO-NPs varied, with Staphylococcus aureus needing the highest concentration at 500 µg/mL, while E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa needed 62.5 and 125 µg/mL, respectively. We also looked at how these particles affect cancer cells and found they reduced their growth in a dose-dependent way, with IC50 values of around 79 and 151 µg/mL for MCF-7 and HepG2 cells. Interestingly, when we examined the bacteria at the genetic level, we saw that ZnO-NPs at 62.5 µg/mL resulted in down-expression of key virulence genes like rmpA, fnbA, and cna to about 60% of normal levels, and the quorum-sensing gene luxS to 80%. This suggests that even at lower doses, the particles can weaken bacterial ability to cause disease without being fully bactericidal. Overall, our results emphasize how ZnO-NPs can be both antibacterial and anticancer agents, especially by targeting gene expression to boost their effectiveness.