Biogenic synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Argemone mexicana L. and their cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on human colon cancer cell line (HCT-15)

Kailas D Datkhile,Satish R Patil,Pratik P Durgawale,Madhavi N Patil,Dilip D Hinge,Nilam J Jagdale,Vinit N Deshmukh,Ashwini L More

doi:10.1186/s43141-020-00113-y

Abstract

BackgroundNanomedicine has evolved as precision medicine in novel therapeutic approach of cancer management. The present study investigated the efficacy of biogenic gold nanoparticles synthesized using Argemone mexicana L. aqueous extract (AM-AuNPs) against the human colon cancer cell line, HCT-15. ResultsBiosynthesis of AM-AuNPs was determined by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and further characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transition infrared spectroscopy analysis. The cytotoxic activity of AM-AuNPs was assessed by the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, whereas genotoxicity was evaluated by the DNA fragmentation assay. The expression of apoptosis regulatory genes such as p53 and caspase-3 was explored through semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting to evidence apoptotic cell death in HCT-15 cells. Biogenic AM-AuNPs inhibited cell proliferation in HCT-15 cell line with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 20.53 μg/mL at 24 h and 12.03 μg/mL at 48 h of exposure. The altered cell morphology and increased apoptosis due to AM-AuNPs were also evidenced through nuclear DNA fragmentation and upregulated expression of p53 and caspase-3 in HCT-15 cells. ConclusionThe AM-AuNPs may exert antiproliferative and genotoxic effects on HCT-15 cells by cell growth suppression and induction of apoptosis mediated by activation of p53 and caspase-3 genes.

Highlights

Nanomedicine has evolved as precision medicine in novel therapeutic approach of cancer management
The change in the yellow color of the gold chloride solution to dark purple after 3 h of incubation with the A. mexicana leaf extract indicated the formation of gold nanoparticles, which may be triggered by phytochemicals present in the plant (Fig. 1a)
The timedependent UV-visible spectra of biosynthesized AMAuNP solution gave surface plasmon resonance at 540 nm indicating nanoparticle synthesis (Fig. 1b). These results demonstrated that nanoparticle biosynthesis was initiated after 30 min of incubation, and the intensity of peak progressively increased and completed after 3 h of incubation

Summary

Introduction

Nanomedicine has evolved as precision medicine in novel therapeutic approach of cancer management. The present study investigated the efficacy of biogenic gold nanoparticles synthesized using Argemone mexicana L. aqueous extract (AM-AuNPs) against the human colon cancer cell line, HCT-15. Biogenic silver nanoparticles are significantly illustrated for their biological efficacies including antimicrobial and anticancer potential, but the gold nanoparticles remained poorly characterized for their biomedical applications. Some studies reported strong anticancer potential of AuNPs synthesized using Dunaliella salina and Dragon fruit plants against breast cancer cell lines [13, 14]. Other studies revealed dose-dependent cytotoxicity activity of gold nanoparticles synthesized using plant extracts against lung and bladder cancer cell lines [15,16,17]. Numerous scientists have explored the anticancer potential of biosynthesized nanoparticles, the effect of AuNPs on colon cancer cells remains unclear. The intracellular and molecular level interaction of biogenic AuNPs and the precise mechanism involved in the regulation of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in response to AuNPs remained poorly understood

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Discussion

Conclusion