Honey-based synthesis of ZnO nanopowders and their cytotoxicity effects

The use of food and bio-derived products for the synthesis of different nanomaterials is of enormous interest to modern nanobiotechnology. We have developed a simple, novel, "greener'', bio-directed, and low cost method for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanopowders (ZnO-NPs) by using honey as a food and bio-derived product. The prepared ZnO-NPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Spherical ZnO-NPs were synthesized at different calcination temperatures and FESEM images and its corresponding particle size distributions showed the formation of nanopowders in size of about 30 nm. The PXRD analysis revealed wurtzite hexagonal ZnO with preferential orientation at (101) reflection plane. In vitro cytotoxicity studies on neuro2A cells showed a dose dependent toxicity with non-toxic effect of a concentration up to 7.8 mu g/mL. (C) 2015 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.