Abstract

Over the past few years, ZnO nanoparticles have attracted great attention due to their biocompatibility and low cost. A number of investigations demonstrated their potential applications in biotechnology and biomedicine. This review presents the current biological applications of ZnO nanoparticles, including biological imaging, drug releasing and biosensing, as well as their advantages and limitations in these areas. In addition, the toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles is discussed in comparison with other conventional nanoparticles.

Keywords: Bioimaging, biosensing, drug carrier, nanocrystals, toxicity, ZnO.