Fe ₃ O ₄ /Ag nanocomposite biosynthesised using Spirulina platensis extract and its enhanced anticancer efficiency

Abstract

In this work, the authors investigated the apoptotic activities of Fe 3 O 4 /Ag nanocomposite biosynthesised by Spirulina platensis extract against MCF-7 (human breast cancer cells). The physico-chemical properties of prepared Fe 3 O 4 /Ag nanocomposite were studied by different spectroscopic methods. To evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic effect, MCF-7 cells were treated with different concentrations of Fe 3 O 4 /Ag nanocomposite and examined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Moreover, apoptotic effects were also studied by Hoechst 33258 staining, caspase 3 activation assays, and annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and propidium iodide staining. Microscopic observations of Fe 3 O 4 /Ag nanocomposites indicated approximately spherical shape and small particles in the size range of about 30-50 nm. The MTT assay result revealed that the Fe 3 O 4 /Ag nanocomposite causes a dose-dependent cell proliferation reduction in MCF-7 cells (IC 50 = 135 μg/ml). Regarding to the Annexin V/PI staining result, the increase percentage of apoptotic cells (28.09%) was detected as compared to untreated cells. According to the caspase assay, Fe 3 O 4 /Ag nanocomposite enhances caspase 3 level. Furthermore, in vitro anti-cancer activity of the nanocomposite was performed by Hoechst 33258 staining method. The proposed data suggest that Fe 3 O 4 /Ag nanocomposite may be an effective agent for the inhibition of breast cancer cells at in vitro level.

Co–Sn–Cu oxides/graphene nanocomposites as green catalysts for preparing 1,8‐dioxo‐octahydroxanthenes and apoptosis‐inducing agents in MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells

“…In this work, we prepared Co–Sn–Cu oxides/graphene nanocomposites, for the first time, via solid‐state microwave method as a new, simple, and fast strategy and their anti‐cancer effects in MCF‐7 cells were investigated via apoptosis induction. The results showed that nanocomposite 1 was more potent than copper nanoparticles (CuNP, IC50 = 85 µg/mL) [ 81 ], silver nanoparticles (IC50 = 90 µg/mL) [ 82 ], Fe 3 O 4 /Ag nanocomposite (IC50 = 135 μg/mL) [ 83 ], and copper sulfide quantum dots (CuSQDs) loaded nano‐GO (IC50 = 100 µg/mL) [ 84 ]. The superiority of our introduced nanocomposites may be due to different factors such as type and ratio of elements that resided in nanocomposite, type of precursor, as well as synthetic method.…”

“…In this work, we prepared Co-Sn-Cu oxides/graphene nanocomposites, for the first time, via solid-state microwave method as a new, simple, and F I G U R E 1 4 Apoptosis induction of the nanocomposites (assigned 1, 2, and 3) and CuO nanoparticle as negative control (assigned 4) F I G U R E 1 5 Effect of the nanocomposites (assigned 1, 2, and 3) and CuO nanoparticle as negative control (assigned 4) on apoptosis after 48 h. The percentage of cells in early and late apoptosis was considered as apoptosis fast strategy and their anti-cancer effects in MCF-7 cells were investigated via apoptosis induction. The results showed that nanocomposite 1 was more potent than copper nanoparticles (CuNP, IC50 ¼ 85 µg/mL) [81], silver nanoparticles (IC50 ¼ 90 µg/mL) [82], Fe 3 O 4 /Ag nanocomposite (IC50 ¼ 135 μg/mL) [83], and copper sulfide quantum dots (CuSQDs) loaded nano-GO (IC50 ¼ 100 µg/mL) [84]. The superiority of our introduced nanocomposites may be due to different factors such as type and ratio of elements that resided in nanocomposite, type of precursor, as well as synthetic method.…”

Antifungal and antiovarian cancer properties of α Fe 2 O 3 and α Fe 2 O 3 /ZnO nanostructures synthesised by Spirulina platensis

“…Recently, Salehzadeh et al [21] coated magnetite with biogenic silver NPs synthesised by Spirulina platensis (S. platensis) extract and reported its anticancer activity against human breast cancer cell lines MCF‐7. Till date no data on coating iron oxide NPs with zinc oxide using biological synthesis.…”

A novel CuFe2O4@Ag nanocomposite biosynthesized bySpirulina platensisexhibits an anticancer effect on human gastric adenocarcinoma and Michigan Cancer Foundation‐7 breast cancer cell lines

“…The rate of early apoptosis in MCF‐7 cells treated with CuFe 2 O 4 @Ag NPs (Q 3 ) was 28.8%, which was greater than the untreated cells. This early apoptotic cell population was greater than those reported for cancer cell lines treated with the Fe 2 O 4 @Ag nanocomposite (13.2%) [ 30 ] and Cu–Ag NPs (24.53%). [ 31 ] These results confirmed the changes in the mitochondrial membrane, which ultimately led to a loss of the membrane potential function.…”

“…The proteolytic activation of executioner caspase‐3, also called “the point of no return”, is the hallmark of programmed cell death leading to the reorganization of cytoskeleton and degradation of organelles, chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and blebbing. [ 32,33 ] In 2019, Salehzadeh et al [ 30 ] reported 1.2 times increase in caspase‐3 enzyme activity in MCF‐7 cells in the presence of Fe 2 O 4 @Ag nanocomposite. In addition, the results of Chakraborty et al [ 34 ] depicted an increase in active caspase‐3 level by about 1.5 times in the A‐375 cells treated with of Cu NP.…”