The role of green synthesis metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in oral cancer therapy: a review

There are 275,000 new cases of oral cancer (OC) per year, making it the sixth most common cancer in the world. Severe adverse effects, including loss of function, deformity, and systemic toxicity, are familiar with traditional therapies such as radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery; due to their unique properties, nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a superior alternative over chemo/radiotherapy and surgery due to their targeting capability, bioavailability, compatibility, and high solubility. Due to their unique properties, metallic NPs have garnered significant attention in OC control. In addition to the fact that metal NPs may be harmful to human cells, the reactive chemicals used to make them pose the same risk, which limits their use in medicine. Green synthesis (GS) is a novel strategy that uses biological materials like yeast, bacteria, fungi, and plant extracts. Compared to more traditional chemical synthesis processes, these are more environmentally benign and manageable for living organisms. This article summarizes the GS of NPs made of metals and metal oxides and their anticancer effects on OC. The method's potential benefits and drawbacks in advancing metallic NPs' GS and shaping OC therapy's future were also discussed.