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 (∼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 µg/mL and MICuv = 31.25 µg/ml). MTT cytotoxicity on leishmania promastigotes and amastigotes revealed significant inhibition as indicated by their IC50 values of 14.7 µg/mL and 11.95 µg/m respectively. Cytotoxicity was also confirmed using brine shrimp lethality (IC50 = 27.7 µg/mL). Bio-compatibility evaluation indicated cytotoxicity to freshly isolated human macrophages (IC50 = 57.1 µg/mL). Insignificant alpha-amylase inhibition and moderate protein kinase inhibition was revealed. Antioxidant activities indicated free radical scavenging activity (58 ± 2.45) at 200 µg/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.