Photosynthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles from Portieria hornemannii: Multifunctional Biological Activities and Molecular Docking Insights for Cervical Cancer
J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Volume 15, No 3 (September 2026) pp. 165-176
Abstract
Red seaweed is regarded as an environmentally friendly and safe material for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles. Biomass of seaweeds is a renewable and commercial source of marine resources. In this research, zinc oxide nanoparticles were produced exploiting the red alga Portieria hornemannii. The formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles was indicated through the change in color of the test mixture recorded with the assistance of the UV-visible spectrophotometer. A variety of characterization techniques (FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDX) were used to confirm the formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles. The effectiveness of biosynthesised zinc oxide nanoparticles was proven to be strong against Gram-positive as well as Gram-negative bacteria. The antioxidant activity of Ph-Zn-NPs was assessed using the DPPH assay, and their free radical-scavenging ability was investigated. Additionally, these nanoparticles show important anticancer activity against human cervical carcinoma (SiHa cell line) with an IC50 of 391.31±15.9. The molecular docking analysis of P. hornemannii compounds showed favorable binding scores with the mutated genes related to cervical cancer. The study proposes an eco-friendly and sustainable approach with a wide range of applications, particularly against cervical cancer.
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