title: Visible-light-responsive ZnCuO nanoparticles: benign photodynamic killers of infectious protozoans.
abstract: Human beings suffer from several infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoans. Recently, there has been a great interest in developing biocompatible nanostructures to deal with infectious agents. This study investigated benign ZnCuO nanostructures that were visible-light-responsive due to the resident copper in the lattice. The nanostructures were synthesized through a size-controlled hot-injection process, which was adaptable to the surface ligation processes. The nanostructures were then characterized through transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, diffused reflectance spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering, and photoluminescence analysis to measure crystallite nature, size, luminescence, composition, and band-gap analyses. Antiprotozoal efficiency of the current nanoparticles revealed the photodynamic killing of Leishmania protozoan, thus acting as efficient metal-based photosensitizers. The crystalline nanoparticles showed good biocompatibility when tested for macrophage toxicity and in hemolysis assays. The study opens a wide avenue for using toxic material in resident nontoxic forms as an effective antiprotozoal treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan ; Nanosciences and Catalysis Division, National Centre for Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Akhtar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nadhman
authors.affiliation: Nanosciences and Catalysis Division, National Centre for Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Samina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nazir
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Malik Ihsanullah
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Nanosciences and Catalysis Division, National Centre for Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan ; Department of Chemistry, Hazara University, Dhodial, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Attiya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayub
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Hazara University, Dhodial, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Bakhtiar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Momin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Dilawar Farhan
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Shams
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan ; Center of Interdisciplinary Research, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Masoom
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasinzai
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015195:Drug Design; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects*; D008027:Light; D049449:Luminescence; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000469:parasitology*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009336:Necrosis; D010316:Particle Size; D010539:Permeability; D010777:Photochemistry; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc; C030973:cupric oxide
keywords: Leishmania; doping; nanoparticles; photodynamic therapy; zinc oxide