Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles in A549 and BEAS‐2B Cell Lines

Abstract

Introduction. Biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-GA) were successfully synthesised using Garcinia atroviridis leaf extract as a reducing agent, which has ethnopharmacological claims against various diseases including cancer. Aim of the Study. Aim of the study is to discover whether AgNPs-GA has cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on cancerous (A549) and noncancerous (BEAS-2B) human lung cells. Materials and Methods. The cytotoxicity profiles of AgNPs-GA were characterized by MTT assay, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, and DAPI and AOPI double staining, whilst genotoxicity was assessed using Comet Assay analysis. The level of silver ions (Ag+) and cellular uptake of AgNPs-GA were evaluated by ICP-OES and TEM analyses, respectively. Results. A significant cytotoxic effect was observed by AgNPs-GA on both A549 and BEAS-2B cell lines, with IC50 values of 20–28 μg/ml and 12–35 μg/ml, respectively. The cytotoxicity profile of AgNPs-GA was also accompanied by a pronounced increase in ROS production, DNA damage, and apoptosis. Moreover, Ag+ was also detected in cells exposed to AgNPs-GA threefold higher compared to controls. In this study, AgNPs-GA were endocytosed within lysosomes, which may direct to secondary toxicity effects including oxidative stress, impairment of the cell membrane, DNA fragmentation, and cell death. Conclusions. Taken together, novel toxicological-related mechanisms by AgNPs-GA were proposed involving the generation of ROS that causes DNA damage which led to programmed cell death in both A549 and BEAS-2B cells. Therefore, a combination of scientific assessments is constantly needed to ensure that the quality of biosynthesized nanoparticles is controlled and their safe development is promoted.

The Role of Silver Nanoparticles in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer: Are There Any Perspectives for the Future?

“…Numerous in vitro and in vivo research studies have shown that AgNPs may inhibit the growth and viability of cancer cells. By damaging the ultrastructure of cancer cells and causing the formation of ROS and DNA damage, AgNPs may induce apoptosis and necrosis [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. AgNPs may induce apoptosis by up- or down-regulating the expression of important genes, such as p53 [ 23 , 24 ], and by altering crucial signaling pathways, such as the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway [ 25 ].…”

Silver nanoparticles biogenically synthesised using Maclurodendron porteri extract and their bioactivities

“…The liberated reactive hydrogen worked as a reducing agent by binding to the AgNO 3 and converted Ag + into Ag 0 to produce AgNPs [ 8 , 30 ]. Equation (2) is the proposed mechanism of reduction reaction for green synthesis of MP-AgNPs [ 28 ]. Ag + NO 3 − + Phytochemicals of M. porteri extract (-C O, –OH, –NH, etc.)…”

“…Caco-2 cells and MCF-7 cells were seeded at a density of 1.0 × 10 4 per well and 1.5 × 10 4 per well respectively in 96-well plates. After the treatment, the purple colour of formazan salts formed in the wells treated with MP-AgNPs which indicated the viability of cells [ 28 ].…”

New Anthranilic Acid Hydrazones as Fenamate Isosteres: Synthesis, Characterization, Molecular Docking, Dynamics & in Silico ADME, in Vitro Anti‐Inflammatory and Anticancer Activity Studies

“…Statistical differences between untreated cells and treated cells were determined using Student's t‐test. Multiple comparisons between the treatment groups were performed using ANOVA followed by Tukey's post‐hoc test by GraphPad Prism 6.01 [54,55] …”