Exploring Dose-Dependent Cytotoxicity Profile of Gracilaria edulis-Mediated Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles against MDA-MB-231 Breast Carcinoma

Abstract

Green-based synthesis of metal nanoparticles using marine seaweeds is a rapidly growing technology that is finding a variety of new applications. In the present study, the aqueous extract of a marine seaweed, Gracilaria edulis, was employed for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles without using any reducing and stabilizing chemical agents. The visual color change and validation through UV-Vis spectroscopy provided an initial confirmation regarding the Gracilaria edulis-mediated green synthesized silver nanoparticles. The dynamic light scattering studies and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy pictographs exhibited that the synthesized Gracilaria edulis-derived silver nanoparticles were roughly spherical in shape having an average size of $62.72\pm 0.25$  nm and surface zeta potential of - $15.6\pm 6.73$  mV. The structural motifs and chemically functional groups associated with the Gracilaria edulis-derived silver nanoparticles were observed through X-ray diffraction and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Further, the synthesized nanoparticles were further screened for their antioxidant properties through DPPH, hydroxyl radical, ABTS, and nitric oxide radical scavenging assays. The phycosynthesized nanoparticles exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells having IC50 value of $344.27\pm 2.56$  μg/mL. Additionally, the nanoparticles also exhibited zone of inhibition against pathogenic strains of Bacillus licheniformis (MTCC 7425), Salmonella typhimurium (MTCC 3216), Vibrio cholerae (MTCC 3904), Escherichia coli (MTCC 1098), Staphylococcus epidermidis (MTCC 3615), and Shigella dysenteriae (MTCC9543). Hence, this investigation explores the reducing and stabilizing capabilities of marine sea weed Gracilaria edulis for synthesizing silver nanoparticles in a cost-effective approach with potential anticancer and antimicrobial activity. The nanoparticles synthesized through green method may be explored for their potential utility in food preservative film industry, biomedical, and pharmaceutical industries.