Synthesis and Characterization of Biocompatible Silver Nanoparticles for Anticancer Application

摘要

Abstract Nanobiotechnology is a fast developing scientific field having several applications in biochemistry, medicine, biology, engineering, etc. and plays a key role in the development and improvement of clean, eco-friendly, non-toxic and cost effective techniques for the synthesis and assembly of metal nanoparticles. One of the foremost green synthesis approaches includes biofabrication of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plants and plant products. In the present study, we have synthesized silver nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Indian spice Asafoetida. Their formation was confirmed through UV–Vis spectral peak at 426.4 nm and their stability was also monitored for 3 months at room temperature using dynamic light scattering (DLS). DLS analysis revealed that the particles so formed were not only monodispersed in nature but also stable at room temperature for 3 months with a reported size of 90–95 nm. The characterization techniques revealed that synthesized AgNPs were well distributed with size ranging from 90 to 100 nm. Furthermore, Asafoetida-AgNPs were tested for their anticancer activity against the HepG2 cell line. Cell viability assay was done to check the percentage of viable cells and morphological changes at various test concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 ppm) after 24 and 48 h of exposure. The recorded viable cells at lowest concentration (0.01 ppm) was found to be 58.55% and at highest concentration (10 ppm) it was 40.08% after 24 h. Further, when the percent cell viability was observed at 48 h it was 45.22% and 20.23% at lowest and highest concentrations. Morphological characterization of HepG2 cells after the treatment of Asafoetida-AgNPs showed floating and patchy cells signifying their toxic nature against cancerous cells.