Cytotoxicity of Bio-Synthesized MgFe2O4@Ag Nanocomposite on Gastric Cancer Cell Line and Evaluation Its Effect on Bax, p53 and Bcl-2 Genes Expression

• Published in: Journal of cluster science Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 1579 - 1588
• Main Authors: Kardan, Maryam, Pouraei, Ayda, Jaahbin, Negar, Ghasemipour, Taraneh, Mehraban, Fatemeh, Jahani Sayyad Noveiri, Mahboubeh, Hedayati, Mohammad, Salehzadeh, Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.07.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algae; Anticancer properties; Apoptosis; Biocompatibility; Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Flow cytometry; Fourier transforms; Gastric cancer; Gene expression; Genes; Infrared analysis; Inorganic Chemistry; Magnesium ferrites; Microscopy; Nanochemistry; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Original Paper; Physical Chemistry; Side effects; Silver; Staining; Synthesis; Zeta potential; Iran; United States > US; Japan; Germany; Green synthesis; Gastric cancer; MgFe; Silver nanoparticles; O
• ISSN: 1040-7278; 1572-8862
• DOI: 10.1007/s10876-021-02087-4

Gastric cancer is a major human health threat and finding novel and effective anticancer compounds against it is crucially important. Silver nanoparticles (NPs) have promising anticancer potential with minimal side effects. Functionalization of Ag NPs with magnetic compounds could provide novel features, including targeted drug delivery and photothermal therapy. In this work, green synthesis and characterization of MgFe 2 O 4 @Ag nanocomposite were performed. The anticancer potential of the nanocomposite against adenocarcinoma gastric (AGS) cells was investigated using MTT, flow cytometry, Hoechst staining, and caspase-3 activation assays. Also, the relative expression of the Bax and Bcl-2 genes in nanocomposite treated cells was investigated. Proper synthesis and crystallinity of the MgFe 2 O 4 @Ag NPs were confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy indicated the spherical shape of the NPs with the size range of 23–53 nm. Lack of elemental impurities and good stability of the NPs was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping and measuring zeta potential (− 35.5 mv), respectively. The MgFe 2 O 4 @Ag NPs showed a significantly higher antiproliferative potential against AGS cells (IC 50  = 43 µg/mL), than human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) cells (IC 50  = 158 µg/mL). Moreover, flow cytometry and Hoechst staining confirmed apoptosis induction in treated AGS cells. Also, the activity of the caspase-3 protein and expression of the Bax gene among MgFe 2 O 4 @Ag treated cells was significantly increased to 1.8 and 1.21 folds, respectively, while the Bcl-2 gene was down-regulated to 0.68 folds. This study revealed the promising anticancer potential of MgFe 2 O 4 @Ag NPs to be used for gastric cancer treatment after further characterization using in-vitro and in-vivo assays.