The rise of drug-resistant infections and cancer highlights the urgent need for new therapeutic agents. This study aimed to synthesize a novel triazole-based compound and its ZnO nanocomposite to evaluate their antimicrobial and anticancer potential. N-(4-nitrophenyl)-1-(4-(N-(pyridin-2-yl)sulfamoyl)phenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamide (NPST) was prepared and combined with zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPST/ZnO NPs). The geometry and bonding type of the compounds were determined using various spectroscopic techniques, including FTIR, UV-visible, XRD, and 1H NMR. The antibacterial activities of NPST and NPST/ZnO NPs were investigated against Bacillus cereus (Gram-positive), Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), and Candida albicans (yeast). The in vitro antimicrobial assay demonstrated minimal inhibitory concentration, minimum microbicidal concentration, and agar well diffusion methods. All the synthesized compounds exhibited a strong inhibitory effect against the yeast C. albicans compared to other antibacterial agents. This study evaluated the antioxidant and organ-protective effects of NPST and NPST/ZnO in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC)-bearing mice, in comparison to the standard chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. Both treatments significantly enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, indicating a reduction in oxidative stress. Histological analysis revealed preservation of liver architecture in NPST and NPST/ZnO groups. Additionally, both compounds improved liver, kidney, and lipid profiles. The novelty of this study lies in combining a triazole ligand with ZnO nanoparticles to create a dual-action system with enhanced antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer efficacy. The results highlight the therapeutic potential of NPST and NPST/ZnO compounds in enhancing antioxidant status and preserving organ function during cancer progression. An IC₅₀ value of 80.21 ± 3.49 µg/mL was observed against MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines for the MTT method anticancer assay. The synthesized compounds demonstrated promising antibacterial and anticancer properties, suggesting potential applications in industrial and pharmaceutical fields. These results demonstrate that metal complexation may be a viable strategy for enhancing ligand efficacy in cancer therapy.
Khirallah et al. (Sun,) studied this question.