Green synthesis of Fe and Zn nanoparticles with anticancer activity
Keywords:
Calotropis procera, green synthesis, Fe–Zn nanoparticles, cytotoxicity, MTT assay, anticancer activityAbstract
Background: The conventional production of nanoparticles is based on the use of toxic chemicals, which restricts their safety and clinical use. Green synthesis is an alternative, biomedical, and sustainable method that utilizes plant extracts for biocompatibility.
Materials and methods: Nanoparticles were prepared under alkaline conditions and studied using UV-VIS, XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM, EDX, and zeta potential, whereby the crystal structure, surface chemistry, morphology, elemental composition, and stability were determined. MTT assay was done in the cancer cell lines to determine the dose-dependent antiproliferative activity.
Results: Fe nanoparticles proved to be the most efficient anticancer with a 50 concentration (IC 50) of about 40 µg/which leads to a high decrease in cancer cell viability. The cytotoxicity of FeZn nanoparticles was moderate (IC 50 ≈164 µg/mL), but Zn nanoparticles were of lesser activity.
Conclusion: Fe and Fe Zn nanoparticles synthesized in a green way using Calotropis procera exhibited good anticancer properties. This study supports the importance of plant-based production as environmentally friendly and scalable ways to achieve the production of innovative nanoparticle-based cancer therapeutics.
