Facile Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Asian Spider Flower and Its In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity Against Human Breast Carcinoma Cells

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most dangerous threats to human health and possibly the utmost task for current medicine. Currently, bio-based synthesis of nanoparticles from plants has gained much interest due to its potential medicinal applications. In the present study, a biological approach was employed for biogenic (green) synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using dried leaf extract of Asian spider flower (Asf). The biogenic synthesis of Asf-AgNPs (Asian spider flower-Silver nanoparticles) was established using ultra violet-visible (UV-vis) spectra which exhibited a wide superficial plasmon resonance of AgNPs at 445 nm. These nanoparticles clearly showed the formation of poly-disperse crystalline solids (spherical shape) with particle size range of <50 nm based on observation under a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed carboxylic acids (C = O stretch) known to act as a capping agent and a reductant in plant extracts. Elemental silver signal peak was observed in the graph obtained from energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. Biocompatibility tests for Asf-AgNPs at different doses were evaluated against human breast cancer cells (MCF7) for cell viability and apoptotic analysis. According to the evaluation, biosynthesized Asf-AgNPs could prevent the explosion of human breast tumor cells (MCF7) in IC50 at a dose of 40 μg/mL after 48 h of treatment. The results obtained in the IC50 dosage treatments were statistically significant (p < 0.05) when compared with control. Nuclear damage of cells was further investigated using annexin V-FITC/PI dual staining and DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining method. Bright blue fluorescence with condensed and fragmented chromatin was observed. Western blot analysis showed increased expression levels of caspases-3 and 9 (apoptotic proteins). These results indicate that bio-approached AgNPs synthesized through Asf plant extract could be used as potential therapeutic medications for human cancer cells.