TITLE:
Preparation, Characterization and in Vitro Evaluation of the Antitumor Activity of the Biologically Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles
AUTHORS:
Omama E. Elshawy, Eman A. Helmy, Laila A. Rashed
KEYWORDS:
Penicillium aurantiogriseum, Silver Nanoparticles, in Vitro, Cytotoxicity, Radio-Sensitivity
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Nanoparticles,
Vol.5 No.2,
May
30,
2016
ABSTRACT: This study was concentrated on the
biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from Penicillium aurantiogresium (IMI
89372) with a focus on its cytotoxicity in MCF-7 and MCT cancer cell lines as
well as Vero (normal) cell line that was assessed by crystal violet assay after
treatment with various concentrations (0.44 – 145 μg/ml) for 24 h. The cell
morphology was examined by inverted light microscopy. Further, the
radiosensitizing effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on MCF-7 was also
demonstrated by assessing cell morphology, cell proliferation of MTT assay, LDH
activity and induction of apoptosis through checking of some apoptotic genes
that altered during carcinogenesis, including caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2.
Caspase-3 activity was also estimated. Synthesis of AgNPs was determined by
UV-Visible spectrum and it was further characterized by TEM, FT-IR and X-Ray
analysis (EDX, XRD). The biosynthesized AgNPs were spherical and of 12.7 nm in
size as recorded by direct electron microscopy visualization. The biosynthesized
AgNPs showed variation in cytotoxicity against MCF-7, MCT and Vero cell lines
in a concentration dependant response with a varied degree of alteration in
cell morphology. The result showed that AgNPs were highly toxic towards MCF-7
with IC50 value of 10.5 μg/ml. Treatment of MCF-7 (10.5 μg/ml) prior to
irradiation improved the effect of irradiation dose (6 Gy) via increasing
alteration of cell morphology, inhibition of cell proliferation, activation of
the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and caspase-3 leading to induction of apoptosis
which was further confirmed through increasing nuclear DNA damage and up
regulation of caspase 3 and Bax genes and downrgulation of Bcl-2 genes. In
conclusion, the present findings clearly indicated that AgNPs showed dose dependant
cytotoxicity and verified that AgNPs acted as a potent radiosensitizer and
could enhance gamma irradiation induced killing of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.