Biomedical and Anticancer Potential of Green Synthesized Chalcogenide Zinc Sulfide Nanoparticles Using Different Plant Extracts as the Capping Agent

Chalcogenide zinc sulfide nanoparticles have been synthesized through a simple green co-precipitation method using Phyllanthus emblica, Musa paradisiaca, and Curcumin Longa extract as the capping agent. The structural and optical properties of the prepared samples were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM–EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum, UV–visible spectrum, and photoluminescence (PL) analysis. The XRD analysis confirms the cubic and crystalline nature of the synthesized samples. The crystallite size of the synthesized ZnS nanoparticles varies from 2.94 to 3.28 nm by changing the capping agent. Energy band gap of all the samples determined using Tauc plot method shows a tunability (ΔE_g = 0.44 eV) in accordance to its particle size. Photoluminescence analysis of the sample at 370 nm excitation reveals the potential of the samples in visible emission with 8.6 watts/nm suitable for bioimaging probes. Anticancer activity and IC₅₀ values of the prepared nanoparticles were studied using in vitro cytotoxicity (Tryphan blue exclusion), and the samples show anticancer activity against DLA (Dalton’s lymphoma ascites) bearing mice cell lines. The studies confirm that chalcogenide ZnS nanoparticles biofueled using Phyllanthus emblica extract shows maximum anticancer activity compared to the other two samples with 273 μg/ml IC₅₀ (half maximal inhibitory concentration). This promising anticancer activity and visible emissions demonstrated by the green chalcogenide ZnS sample suggests its potential utilization as an effective agent in biomedical applications for combating cancer, biological labeling and in bioimaging applications.