In vitro analysis of antibacterial activity against wound pathogens, potential for wound healing, and anti-melanoma properties of biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of wound infections. Infected wounds increase wound severity and have a slower rate of healing. Moreover, emergence of multiple-drug resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) limited treatment options. This study was therefore aimed to evaluate antibacterial activity against wound pathogen and wound-healing properties of green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles derived from mangosteen peel crude extract (ZnO-Gm). Moreover, their anti-skin cancer activity was also investigated in vitro. As a result, the ZnO-Gm particles significantly inhibited growth of S. aureus and MRSA with the IC₅₀ values at 0.44 and 0.51 mg/mL, respectively. By performing quantitative reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, the intracellular ROS in both treated S. aureus and MRSA with ZnO-Gm was found to be significantly elevated. Furthermore, ZnO-Gm exhibited cytotoxic effects via induction of apoptosis on the A375 melanoma cancer cell line, with an IC₅₀ value of 8.91 µg/mL, while not affecting the normal cell line (Vero). In addition, 30 µg/mL of ZnO-Gm could strongly promote wound healing of an epidermal keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). Consequently, the findings of this study demonstrated that the green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles have potential as antibacterial agents, wound-healing materials, and anti-melanoma agents.