Apoptosis Induction in Human Leukemia Cell Lines by Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized Using the Green Biosynthetic Approach

Abstract EN

Gold nanoparticles were grown on Sargassum muticum water extract (S-GNPs) using the green biosynthetic approach.

The nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, zeta potential, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

The resulting S-GNPs were spherical and crystalline with a size of <10 nm.

The in vitro anticancer activity was demonstrated in human leukemia cell lines.

The cancer cells were treated with different concentrations of S-GNPs, and calorimetric (MTT) assay used for the cytotoxicity test, which resulted in an IC50 value of 4.22 ± 1.12, 5.71 ± 1.4, 6.55 ± 0.9, and 7.29 ± 1.7 μg/mL for each of the K562, HL-60, Jurkat, and CEM-ss cells, respectively.

Thus, the K562 was selected for the next experiments.

Furthermore, apoptosis induction was confirmed by Hoechst 33342, annexin V staining, and caspase-3/-9 activity tests.

The cell cycle analysis exhibited a significant increase in the accumulation of S-GNPs treated cells at the sub-G1 phase, demonstrating the induction of apoptosis by S-GNPs.

The nature of the inhibition of cancer cell growth by S-GNPs could open the way for further research in the design of green synthesis therapeutic agents, particularly in nanomedicine, for the treatment of cancer.