Unlocking the therapeutic potential: Green synthesized zinc oxide/silver nanoparticles from Sophora pachycarpa for anticancer activity, gene expression analysis, and antibacterial applications

Hematologic malignancies and bloodstream infections rank among the most lethal medical conditions. Research on new treatments for these diseases is crucial. In this study, we investigated the anticancer properties and molecular mechanisms of zinc oxide nanoparticles doped with silver synthesized using a green approach involving Sophora pachycarpa (S. pachycarpa) plant seed extract ( SPS@ ZnO/Ag NPs). Additionally, we explored the antibacterial effects of these nanoparticles and S. pachycarpa extract. The SPS@ ZnO/Ag NPs were characterized using XRD, FTIR, zeta potential, EDS, FESEM, and TEM analyses. Subsequently, we assessed the viability of K562 cells in the presence of different nanoparticles and extract. Molecular mechanisms underlying cell death were examined through flow cytometry analysis, Hoechst staining, and relative expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Apaf-1, Cytochrome c, Caspases 3, 6, 9) relative to the gene B -actin. Also, BAX/BCL2 ratio was determined. Antibacterial effects were evaluated against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The results confirmed successful synthesis of spherical SPS@ ZnO/Ag NPs with positive surface charge, purity, and size ranging from 50 to 65 nm. SPS@ ZnO/Ag NPs significantly reduced K562 cell viability compared to S. pachycarpa extract and chemical nanoparticles, with the 1:1 ratio of zinc oxide and silver nitrate exhibiting the highest cell death. The findings from flow cytometry analysis, Hoechst staining, and molecular pathway analysis indicate that SPS@ ZnO/Ag NPs induce cancer cell death through apoptosis. Evaluation of antibacterial properties demonstrated the destruction of all studied strains by SPS@ ZnO/Ag NPs. Overall, our study demonstrates that green synthesis, in comparison to chemical synthesis, exerts a notable impact on the anticancer properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles doped with silver. Moreover, SPS@ZnO/Ag NPs exhibit targeted induction of cancer cell apoptosis, showcasing their potential application in biomedical fields.