Fig. 1

Chemical structure of 10-hydroxy decanoic acid (10-HDA) and Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), the experimental design, and the characterisation of ZnONPs. (a) 10-HDA is an unsaturated fatty acid with the chemical formula C₁₀H₂₀O₃. Its structural representation features a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the 10th carbon of a decanoic acid chain. (b) ZnONPs are composed of zinc oxide with a nanoscale structure, exhibiting unique physical and chemical properties. Typically, these nanoparticles have a high surface-to-volume ratio and can be characterised using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). (c) Regarding experimental design, the study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effects of 10-HDA and ZnONPs in a nephrotoxic rat’s model induced by lead acetate (PbAc). The experimental design shows the control groups (sham, 10-HDA, ZnONPs, and the mixed treatment) and the induced groups (PbAc, PbAc + 10-HDA, PbAc + ZnONPs, and the PbAc + mixed treatment). The treatments were continuous for 28 days at a dose of 5 mg/kg after an induction period of three months of lead acetate exposure. (d) SEM micrograph of ZnONPs -Magnification power x40.000- shows a spherical homogeneous shape of the nanoparticles, whereas the average particle size for the nanoparticle is about 40 nm. (e) TEM micrograph- Magnification power x50.000- revealed a hexagonal shape for ZnONPs. (f) The EDX data revealed the presence of two primary elements, Zn (82.43%) and O (17.57%), confirming the high purity of ZnONPs