Ozkan, Elvan HasanogluYetim, Nurdan KurnazKizil, Hamit E.Ogutcu, Hatice2026-09-012026-09-0120261565-36331687-479Xhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1155/bca/9949719https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12403/8492The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria represents one of the most pressing challenges in global healthcare. In this study, metal oxide-based nanomaterials are gaining prominence due to their antimicrobial and anticancer potential. In the present study, six new zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) synthesized via the hydrothermal method using different surfactants were characterized, and their biological activities were evaluated. ZnO-NPs, whose structural properties were determined by a range of analytical methods including BET, FT-IR, SEM-EDX, XRD, and XPS, exhibited significant antibacterial and antifungal effects on a range of bacterial and fungal strains. The study revealed that variations in the morphology and surface area had a direct impact on antimicrobial efficacy. In antimicrobial assays, the inhibition zones ranged from 10.5 mm to 25.5 mm, with ZnO-6 exhibiting the highest efficacy against S. epidermidis (25.5 mm). In cytotoxicity assays, ZnO-6 demonstrated the strongest anticancer potential against H460 cells with the lowest IC50 value of 31.9 & micro;g/mL. Furthermore, a strong correlation was revealed between the physicochemical properties of ZnO-NPs and their anticancer activity, as evidenced by the results of tests conducted on H460 lung cancer cells. Specifically, ZnO-6, which possesses a flower-like morphology and the highest surface area, exhibited the strongest anticancer effect with an IC50 value of 31.9 & micro;g/mL. The parallel enhancement in both antimicrobial and anticancer activities observed in ZnO-6 suggests a common underlying mechanism, likely driven by the high surface area and specific flower-like morphology that facilitates increased interaction with cell membranes and ROS generation. The findings demonstrate that the controlled design of ZnO-NPs in terms of morphology and surface area offers significant potential in both antimicrobial and anticancer applications.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessAntimicrobial ActivityAntimicrobial ResistanceHydrothermal MethodPathogenic MicroorganismZno-NpsArticle2026110.1155/bca/9949719417377242-s2.0-105030840038Q1WOS:001697319400001Q10000-0001-6227-03460000-0001-6193-37340000-0001-7338-4015