The Selective Inhibitory Effect of Silver Nitroprusside Nanoparticles on Breast Tumor Growth

Abstract

Abstract A number of different metallic nanoparticles have been extensively investigated in recent years based on their diverse potential in biomedical and cancer applications, antibacterial activity, and chemical properties. Here, silver nitroprusside nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared from silver nitrate and sodium nitroprusside, and their anticancer activity was evaluated. AgNPs were prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (DRX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray dispersive energy spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In vitro tests were performed using two breast cancer cell lines, including a non-malignant breast epithelial cell line (MCF-10A) and a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). The results obtained through cytotoxicity assays (MTT and resazurin) and bright-field microscopy revealed that AgNPs (3.0 mg/mL) exhibited specific selectivity for non-malignant breast epithelial cells. They were toxic to tumorigenic cells (MCF-7) with a lower selective toxicity to non-malignant breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A). In vivo imaging system (IVIS) imaging demonstrated the antitumor activity of AgNPs (3.0 mg/mL) compared to that of the control, and this was confirmed through histological analysis without any potential systemic toxicity. These results suggest that AgNPs possess potential anticancer applications in breast cancer treatment.