Diluted concentrations of large (above one hundred nanometer) silver nanoparticles inhibited the growth of different types and origin of cancer cells

Abstract

This study describes utilization of large silver nanoparticles (above one hundred nanometer in diameter) synthesized by plus laser ablation method in liquid (PLAL) in growth inhibition and apoptosis induction of cancer cells. Two different types of cancer cell lines and two different types of transformed cell lines were used. These cell lines were Rabdomyosarcoma (RD), glioblastoma (AMGM), rat embryo fibroblast transformed cell line (REF) and green monkey kidney transformed cell line (VERO). Cells were challenged with diluted concentration of silver nanoparticles they were 62.5µg/ml, 30.25µg/ml, and 15.12µg/ml. The synthesized silver nanoparticles was characterized it had surface plasmon resonance peak at 411nm and particle size distribution average diameter of 193.19 nm. Growth inhibition assay revealed that these relatively large nanoparticles are lethal toward cells under investigation; this lethality was concentration dependant during 24 hours of incubation at 37°C. According to acridine orange/propidium iodide mixed fluorescent staining assay, the used concentrations were able to induce apoptosis in all cells tested. However, the highest concentration was able to induce highest apoptosis percentage in the treated cells. This was confirmed by DNA fragmentation assay as well. In conclusion this study determined that above-one hundred nanometer size silver nanoparticle is capable of inducing apoptosis in cancer cell lines.