Bio-fabrication of ZnONPs using Mimosa pudica Extract to Combat Multidrug Resistant Uropathogens

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) have been extensively used in therapeutic applications due to their unique physicochemical and biological properties. Meanwhile, urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most prevalent infections for which conventional antibiotics are the only treatment option. Unfortunately, improper and overuse of those antibiotics cause antibiotic resistance. Therefore, the current study is about the eco-friendly and cost-effective green synthesis of ZnONPs using Mimosa pudica leaf extract as a reducing, stabilizing, and capping agent that can act as an alternative therapeutics. The structural and optical properties of these M. pudica-based ZnONPs(Mp-ZnONPs), were characterized through various techniques, including UV–Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analysis, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). From the above characterization, it was demonstrated that these crystalline nearly spherical NPs had an average size of 22.84 nm and a surface charge of −24.6 mV. Furthermore, the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of MP-ZnONPs was assessed against multidrug-resistant (MDR) uropathogens, including both Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains with a MIC of 25–400 µg. These NPs also exhibited good hemocompatibility against human blood (hblood) samples. The cytotoxicity assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and NPs involvement in morphological and intracellular function were also investigated in RAW 264.7 and MCF7 cell lines to understand the in-vitro biocompatibility. These Mp-ZnONPs also showed an anticancer efficiency for cancerous MCF7 cells in comparison with the standard RAW 264.7 cells.