Newsnature.com2 Aug 2026

Green synthesis of Ni-doped ZnO nanoparticles using Salvia hispanica and their antibacterial, anticancer and anti-virulence activities

Researchers used chia seed extract to create zinc oxide nanoparticles that show antibacterial and anticancer properties in lab tests.

An environmentally benign approach was employed to synthesize nickel-doped zinc oxide (Ni–ZnO) nanoparticles employing Salvia hispanica extract as a biologically derived reductant and capping material. Phytochemical profiling confirmed the abundance of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which facilitated nanoparticle formation and stability. UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, TEM, SEM, EDX, DLS, and zeta potential analysis were verified the successful creation of crystalline, predominantly spherical nanostructures averaging ~ 72 nm in size, with Ni ions effectively integrated into the ZnO crystal framework. Biological evaluation demonstrated significant multifunctional activity. Ni–ZnO nanoparticles exhibited selective cytotoxicity, with IC₅₀ values of 139.9 µg/mL in HNO97 cancer cells and 284.6 µg/mL in normal HOECs. Flow cytometry revealed pronounced apoptosis induction (50.0% early and 22.5% late apoptosis) and strong cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase (70.6%). In addition, the nanoparticles displayed potent antibacterial interest, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus, with confirmed bactericidal effects based on MIC and MBC analyses. Notably, biofilm formation was significantly inhibited (up to ~ 65%), accompanied by marked downregulation of virulence genes, including exoS, toxA, fimH, and papC. Antioxidant assays showed moderate radical quenching efficiency, yielding IC₅₀ values of 359 µg/mL (DPPH) and 434 µg/mL (ABTS), indicating lower efficiency compared to ascorbic acid. Overall, the study highlights that green-synthesized Ni–ZnO nanoparticles exhibit strong biological performance, combining selective anticancer activity, broad-spectrum antibacterial efficacy, and anti-virulence properties.