Iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized using Mentha spicata extract and evaluation of its antibacterial, cytotoxicity and antimigratory potential on highly metastatic human breast cells

Abstract

Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3 NPs) were synthesized utilizing Mentha spicata sourced from Cyprus as a stabilizing agent. The study delved into assessing the antimicrobial, cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, and anti-migratory potential of Fe2O3 NPs through disc diffusion, trypan blue, and 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]−2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, respectively. Characterization of the synthesized Fe2O3 NPs was conducted using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis spectroscopy (UV–vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The FTIR, XRD, and SEM-EDX spectra confirmed the successful formation of Fe2O3 NPs. The analysis of UV–vis spectra indicates an absorption peak at 302 nm, thereby confirming both the successful synthesis and remarkable stability of the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles exhibited uniform spherical morphology and contained Fe, O, and N, indicating the synthesis of Fe2O3 NPs. Additionally, the Fe2O3 NPs formed through biosynthesis demonstrated antimicrobial capabilities against Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus. The significant anti-migratory potential on MDA-MB 231 human breast cancer cells was observed with lower concentrations of the biosynthesized Fe2O3 NPs, and higher concentrations revealed cytotoxic effects on the cells with an IC50 of 95.7 μg/ml. Stable Fe2O3 NPs were synthesized using Mentha spicata aqueous extract, and it revealed antimicrobial activity on E. coli and B. cereus, cytotoxic, anti-proliferative and anti-migratory effect on highly metastatic human breast cancer cell lines.