Recent Advances in ZnO Nanomaterial-Mediated Biological Applications and Action Mechanisms

In recent years, with the deepening research, metal zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterials have become a popular research object in the biological field, particularly in biomedicine and food safety, which is attributed to their unique physicochemical properties such as high surface area and volume ratio, luminescence effect, surface characteristics and biological activities. Herein, this review provides a detailed overview of the ZnO nanomaterial-mediated biological applications that involve anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, skin care, biological imaging and food packaging applications. Importantly, the corresponding action mechanisms of ZnO nanomaterials are pointed. Additionally, the structure and structure-dependent physicochemical properties, the common synthesis methods and the biosafety of ZnO nanoparticles are revealed in brief. Finally, the significance and future challenges of ZnO nanomaterial applications are concluded.

Automated summary

In recent years, metal zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterials have gained popularity in the biological field, particularly in biomedicine and food safety, due to their unique physicochemical properties. This review provides an overview of the ZnO nanomaterial-mediated biological applications, including anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, skin care, biological imaging, and food packaging applications, as well as their corresponding action mechanisms. The structure, synthesis methods and biosafety of ZnO nanoparticles are also briefly discussed.