Silver-Chitosan Nanocomposite Prepared With Aqueous Sodium-hydroxide and Aqueous Acetic Acid Solutions: Characteristics and Their Cytotoxic Effects

Abstract

In this study cytotoxic effects of silver-chitosan nanocomposites with aqueous sodium-hydroxide solution (SCNC-ASHS), and aqueous acetic acid solution (SCNC-AAAS) were evaluated, in vitro. The morphology of the synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Their cytotoxicity were then evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) in concentrations of 1.56 to 400 µg/ml, and acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining after 24h and 48h. Results showed the cytotoxicity of 400 µg/ml of SCNC-ASHS on Vero and HT-29 cells of 80.57% and 84.37% after 24h, and 82.20% and 84.84% after 48h. While, the values for SCNC-AAAS on Vero and HT-29 cell-lines were respectively 80.63% and 87.64% after 24h, and 83.60% and 87.44% after 48h. The most toxicity on HT-29 cells was belonged to SCNC-AAAS with IC50 of 40.4 µg/ml. In the staining procedure, cell viability for 25 µg/ml concentration of SCNC-AAAS was 41.84% in HT-29 cell and, for 6.25 µg/ml of SCNC-AAAS was 37.51% in Vero cells. A considerable decrease in cell viability was observed. Types of nanoparticles, synthesis methods, and different cell lines play role in inducing cytotoxicity. Anti-cancer effect of the nanoparticles on the colon cancerous cells (HT-29), of that SCNC-AAAS displayed higher effect than SCNC-ASHS.