Green Nanotechnology from Brassicaceae

Abstract

The interaction of cocktail of phytochemicals from broccoli with gold salt results in dual reduction and surface capping to produce well-defined stable and biocompatible gold nanoparticles (B-AuNPs). Broccoli phytochemicals–coated gold nanoparticles (B-AuNPs) have been fully characterized. Detailed in vitro stability in various biological fluids and affinity and selectivity for tumor cells have been investigated. The B-AuNPs showed significant in vitro cytotoxic effects against various cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, PC-3, U266, SkBr3, and T47D) as confirmed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium (MTT) and flow cytometry apoptosis assays. Surface encapsulation of cocktail of broccoli phytochemicals on AuNPs facilitates the cellular internalization, thereby validating the in vitro therapeutic effects of these nanoparticles. Detailed analyses performed by combination of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) have confirmed the presence of biologically active phytochemicals including glucoraphanin, phenethyl glucosinolates, quercetin, folic acid, vitamin C, allyl isothiocyanates, 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanates, and sulforaphane. The unique synergistic cocktail effects of B-AuNPs will provide new opportunities for generating biocompatible AuNPs for molecular imaging and therapeutic applications.