Recent advances in zinc oxide -based nanostructures for anticancer research on human cell lines.

Abstract

This review critically surveys recent progress in the application of zinc oxide nanostructures (ZnO NS) for cancer therapy and anticancer drug delivery. It systematically examines how rational modification strategies such as elemental doping, surface functionalization, and drug loading, enhance therapeutic efficacy across cancers affecting fourteen human organs, with comparative evaluation across multiple cancer cell lines for each. Key in vitro assays and quantitative performance metrics, such as cell viability, IC₅₀, and selectivity index, are discussed to benchmark treatment effectiveness. Available in vivo studies are reviewed to understand the current preclinical status. The review highlights mechanistic correlations between enhanced anticancer activity and reactive oxygen species generation, apoptosis induction, and intracellular Zn²⁺ ion release. Biocompatibility considerations are critically assessed to address safety and translational potential, while molecular docking studies are integrated to provide molecular-level insights into interactions with cancer-related biomolecular targets. Collectively, this review consolidates current knowledge and provides guidance for the rational design, biological evaluation, drug delivery applications, and future development of ZnO-based nanostructures for effective cancer therapy.

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