Green supported Cu nanoparticles on modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles using thymbra spicata flower extract: Investigation of its antioxidant and the anti-human lung cancer properties

Abstract

In recent days, the green synthesized nanomagnetic biocomposites have been evolved with tremendous potential as the future biological agents. This has encouraged us to design and synthesis of a novel Cu NPs supported Thyme flower extract modified magnetic nanomaterial (Fe 3 O 4 / Thyme -Cu). It was meticulously characterized using advanced analytical techniques like FT-IR, FESEM, TEM, EDX, VSM, XRD and ICP-OES. After the characterization, the synthesized Fe 3 O 4 / Thyme -Cu nanocomposite was engaged in biological assays like study of anti-oxidant properties by DPPH mediated free radical scavenging test using BHT as a reference molecule. Thereafter, on having a significant IC50 value in radical scavenging assay, we extended the bio-application of the desired nanocomposite in anticancer study of A549, Calu6 and H358 human lung cell lines in-vitro through MTT assay. They had very low cell viability and high anti-human lung cancer activities dose-dependently against A549, Calu6 and H358 cell lines without any cytotoxicity on the normal cell line (MRC-5). The IC50 of Fe 3 O 4 / Thyme -Cu nanocomposite was 124, 265, and 181 µg/mL against A549, Calu6 and H358 cell lines, respectively. Maybe significant anti-human lung cancer potentials of Fe 3 O 4 / Thyme -Cu nanocomposite against common lung cancer cell lines are related to their antioxidant activities. So, these results suggest that synthesized Fe 3 O 4 / Thyme -Cu nanocomposite as a chemotherapeutic nanomaterial have a suitable anticancer activity against lung cell lines.