Bioinspired synthesis of pure massicot phase lead oxide nanoparticles and assessment of their biocompatibility, cytotoxicity and in-vitro biological properties

Green and ecofriendly route for biosynthesis of lead oxide nanoparticles has been successfully demonstrated using aqueous leaf extracts of Sageretia thea (Osbeck.). Biosynthesized PbO (similar to 27 nm) nanoparticles were extensively characterized using XRD, FTIR, Raman, EDS etc. Morphology was studied through HR-TEM/SEM. As synthesized nanoparticles were investigated for their iv-vitro biological properties. Antibacterial activities revealed enhancement upon modulation by UV in a concentration dependent manner. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be the most resistant strain (MIC = 250 mu g/mL and MICuv = 31.25 mu g/ml). MTT cytotoxicity on leishmania promastigotes and amastigotes revealed significant inhibition as indicated by their IC50 values of 14.7 mu g/mL and 1.95 mu g/m respectively. Cytotoxicity was also confirmed using brine shrimp lethality (IC50 = 27.7 mu g/mL). Bio-compatibility evaluation indicated cytotoxicity to freshly isolated human macrophages (IC50 = 57.1 mu g/mL). Insignificant alpha-amylase inhibition and moderate protein kinase inhibition was revealed. Antioxidant activities indicated free radical scavenging activity (58 +/- 2.45) at 200 mu g/mL. Moderate total reducing power and total antioxidant activity was also indicated. Overall, we conclude lead oxide as a potential candidate for biological applications, however further studies are recommended on their in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity. (C) 2017 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.