Anticancer and antimicrobial activity of biosynthesized Red Sea marine algal silver nanoparticles

• Published in: Scientific reports 2022-02, Vol.12 (1), p.2421-18, Article 2421
• Main Authors: Algotiml, Rabaa, Gab-Alla, Ali, Seoudi, Roshdi, Abulreesh, Hussein H., El-Readi, Mahmoud Zaki, Elbanna, Khaled
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/1647; 631/326; 631/92; Adenocarcinoma; Algae; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - chemical synthesis; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial activity; Antifungal activity; Antimicrobial activity; Antimicrobial agents; Antineoplastic Agents - chemical synthesis; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antitumor activity; Antitumor agents; Aquatic plants; Artemia; Biosynthesis; Breast cancer; Cancer; Carotenoids; Chlorophyta - chemistry; Contrast media; Cytotoxicity; E coli; Fatty acids; Flavonoids; Fourier analysis; Fourier transforms; Fungi - drug effects; Fungi - growth & development; Gracilaria foliifera; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Lethality; MCF-7 Cells; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Metal Nanoparticles - toxicity; multidisciplinary; Nanoparticles; Phaeophyceae - chemistry; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Polyphenols; Polysaccharides; Pyruvic acid; Reducing agents; Rhodophyta - chemistry; Saccharides; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Silver; Silver - chemistry; Silver - pharmacology; Spectroscopy; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Spectrum analysis; Transmission electron microscopy; Tumor cell lines
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06412-3

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is emerging as a simple and eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical synthesis methods. The role of AgNPs is expanding as antimicrobial and anticancer agents, sensors, nanoelectronic devices, and imaging contrast agents. In this study, biogenic AgNPs were synthesized using extracts of different marine algae species, including Ulva rigida (green alga), Cystoseira myrica (brown alga), and Gracilaria foliifera (red alga), as reducing and capping agents. The Physiochemical properties, cytotoxicity, anticancer and antimicrobial activities of the biosynthesized AgNPs were assessed. Surface plasmonic bands of the biosynthesized AgNPs capped with U. rigida , C. myrica , and G. foliifera extracts were visually observed to determine a colour change, and their peaks were observed at 424 nm, 409 nm, and 415 nm, respectively, by UV–Vis spectroscopy; transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated an almost spherical shape of AgNPs with nanoscale sizes of 12 nm, 17 nm, and 24 nm, respectively. Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis suggested that different molecules attached to AgNPs through OH, C=O, and amide groups. The major constituents of the aqueous algal extracts included, terpenoids, polyphenols, sulfonates, polysaccharides, fatty acids, chlorophylls, amide proteins, flavonoids, carotenoids, aliphatic fluoro compounds, volatile compounds, alkalines, pyruvic acid and agar groups. The cytotoxicity and anticancer activities of the biosynthesized AgNPs were assessed using Artemia salina nauplii, normal skin cell lines (HFb-4), and breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 cell line). The lethality was found to be directly proportional to the AgNP concentration. The IC 50 values of C. myrica and G . foliifera AgNPs against A. saline nauplii were 5 and 10 μg ml −1 after 4 h and 16 h, respectively, whereas U. rigida AgNPs did not exhibit cytotoxic effects. Anticancer activity of the biosynthesized AgNPs was dose dependent. The IC 50 values of the biosynthesized AgNPs were 13, 13, and 43 µg ml −1 for U. rigida, C. myrica, and G. foliifera , respectively. U. rigida AgNPs particularly exhibited potent anticancer activity (92.62%) against a human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7) with high selectivity compared the normal cells (IC 50  = 13 µg/ml, SI = 3.2), followed by C. myrica AgNPs (IC 50  = 13 µg/ml, SI = 3.07). Furthermore, the biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited strong antifungal activity against dermatop