PEG-functionalized zinc oxide nanoparticles induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells through reactive oxygen species-dependent impairment of DNA damage repair enzyme NEIL2
PEG-coated ZnO nanoparticles (PEG-ZnO NPs) have greater stability than ZnO NPs. PEG-ZnO NPs have significant anti-tumor activity against human breast cancer cells. DNA repair or apoptosis occurs depending on ROS level in a time-dependent manner. There is ROS-NEIL2 cross-talk in deciding cell fate during PEG-ZnO NP treatment.