Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using green seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia and its anticancer activity on cervical cancer

Caulerpa taxifolia is a remarkable marine green alga known for its abundant production of bioactive compounds exhibiting a wide range of potent biological activities. In this study, we synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles using C. taxifolia and evaluated their effects against the HeLa cell line. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. The anticancer activity of the zinc oxide nanoparticles was investigated using MTT assay, acridine orange and ethidium bromide double staining and DNA fragmentation assay. SEM analysis revealed the hexagonal shape of the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticle, while FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of zinc atoms. XRD patterns indicated the purity of the ZnO nanoparticles, and DLS analysis provided information about their size. The anticancer activity of ZnO nanoparticles was demonstrated by an IC₅₀ value of 74.77 µg/mL and acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining as well as DNA fragmentation assay confirmed apoptosis in the HeLa cell line. These findings highlight a potent cytotoxic impact of the ZnO nanoparticles synthesized from C. taxifolia on cervical cancer cell lines.