Rambutan peels promoted biomimetic synthesis of bioinspired zinc oxide nanochains for biomedical applications

•ZnO synthesis via zinc-ellagate complex formation.•Bioinspired ZnO effect on HepG2 liver cancer cells were explored.•60% and ∼40% cell viability was lost in 7 and 4 days incubated ZnO treated cells.•50% and 10% morphological change was observed in 7 and 4 days ZnO treated cells.

A naturally occurring rambutan peel waste was employed to synthesis bioinspired zinc oxide nanochains. Rambutan peels has the ability of ligating zinc ions as a natural ligation agent resulting in zinc oxide nanochains formation due to its extended polyphenolic system over incubation period. Successful formation of zinc oxide nanochains was confirmed employing transmission electron microscopy studies. About 60% and ∼40% cell viability was lost and 50% and 10% morphological change was observed in 7 and 4 days incubated ZnO treated cells compared with control. Moreover, 50% and 55% of cell death was observed at 24 and 48 h incubation with 7 days treated ZnO cells and hence alters and disturbs the growth of cancer cells and could be used for liver cancer cell treatment.

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