Controlled cytotoxicity of Ag-GO nanocomposite biosynthesized using black peel pomegranate extract against MCF-7 cell line

The lack of definitive treatment for cancer and the emergence of drug-resistant cancers highlights the need for alternative therapies and effective anti-cancer agents. Here, we developed and applied a green approach to fabricate Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and Graphene oxide-Silver nanocomposite (Ag-GO) using the black peel pomegranate extract. The nanomaterials' physicochemical properties were characterized using UV-Visible, FTIR, TEM-EDX, and Zeta potential analyses. Then, the nanomaterials' biological activities against cancerous (MCF-7) and normal (HUVEC) cells were evaluated via MTT assay, real-time PCR, and ROS/DCFDA assay protocols. Based on the results, synthesized AgNPs were spherical with 35 +/- 5 nm diameter and adequate dispersity. However, very small and uniform AgNPs (10 +/- 2 nm) with great dispersity were formed on the GO surface. Also, the nanocomposite surface charge (-41 mV) was substantially lower than that of AgNPs (-28 mV), indicating higher stability. Both AgNPs and Ag-GO showed much more activity against cancerous cells than normal ones. Yet, AgNPs cytotoxicity was severe, so that 500 mu g/ml of this compound, independently of time, reduced the viability of HUVEC and MCF-7 cells to about 41% and 20%, respectively. Ideally, the Ag-GO activity was moderate and time-dependent. 24 h exposure of MCF-7 cells to this compound (500 mu g/ml) led to the increase of cell death from 30% to more than 50% after 48 h. Both nanocompounds increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and intracellular ROS, though, AgNPs showed the most activity to increase the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, while Ag-GO more effectively increased the amount of ROS levels. These findings demonstrated the method's capability of synthesizing nanocomposites with desirable physicochemical and biological properties.

Automated summary

This study developed a green approach to fabricate silver nanoparticles and graphene oxide-silver nanocomposites, and evaluated their biological activities against cancerous and normal cells. The results showed that both nanomaterials exhibited higher activity against cancer cells, with silver nanoparticles being more cytotoxic.