Insight into the molecular mechanism, cytotoxic, and anticancer activities of phyto‐reduced silver nanoparticles in MCF‐7 breast cancer cell lines

• Published in: Microscopy research and technique 2024-07, Vol.87 (7), p.1627-1639
• Main Authors: Ullah, Ikram, Khalil, Ali Talha, Zia, Asad, Hassan, Ishtiaq, Shinwari, Zabta Khan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: anticancer activities; Anticancer properties; Apoptosis; apoptosis x‐rays diffraction; Biomimetics; Breast cancer; Cell viability; Cytotoxicity; DNA fragmentation; Ethidium bromide; Flow cytometry; Fluorescence; fluorescent microscopy; Fourier transforms; Infrared spectroscopy; Iodides; Light diffraction; Light scattering; Molecular modelling; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Oxidative stress; Oxygen; Photon correlation spectroscopy; phyto‐reduced silver nanoparticles; Plant extracts; Reactive oxygen species; Scanning electron microscopy; Silver; Spectrum analysis; Synthesis; Tumor cell lines; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 1059-910X; 1097-0029; 1097-0029
• DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24540

This contribution insight on the cytotoxic and anticancer activities and molecular mechanism of phyto‐reduced silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in MCF‐7 breast cancer cell lines. A simple, entirely green synthesis process was optimized for the phyto‐reduction of AgNP (~12.7 nm) using aqueous leaf extracts of Indigofera heterantha. The structural and vibrational properties of biosynthesized AgNPs were extensively characterized using UV–Vis spectrophotometer, x‐ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while their shape and morphology was studied through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell viability assay indicates concentration dependent inhibition with IC50, 27.93 ± 2.10 μg/mL against MCF‐7 cells and 294.38 ± 3.87 μg/mL against L929 cells. The manifested anticancer mechanism in MCF‐7 cells was extensively studied using Acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB), 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (DAPI) and Annexin‐V/propedium iodide fluorescence microscopic assays. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using DCFH‐DA fluorescent spectroscopy. Overall, the results show that AgNPs exhibit cytotoxic and apoptotic effect on breast cancer MCF‐7 cells by damaging membrane integrity and nuclear fragmentation due to oxidative stress generated by elevated level of ROS. Research Highlights Biomimetic synthesis of nano dimension size silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Characterization of AgNPs through UV–Vis, DLS, XRD, FTIR, and SEM. Cytotoxic and anticancer effects of the biosynthesized AgNPs in L929 fibroblast cells and MCF7 breast cancer respectively. Determination of morphological, and nuclear changes triggered by AgNPs in MCF 7 breast cancer cells using fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry. Apoptosis induction by AgNPs in cancer cells through oxidative stress generated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are exciting nanomaterials among numerous metallic nanoparticles that have various biological and biomedical applications. AgNPs is very important nanomedicines with potential Theranostic applications in therapy and cancer diagnosis. In this article, we synthesized nano‐sized rounded shaped AgNPs using green chemistry approach, and evaluated its anticancer potential using different bioassay systems. We found substantial anticancer effect of AgNPs that could be used as potential target for th