Biogenic synthesis and characterization of biocompatible iron oxide nanoparticles: In vitro study of selective antiproliferative efficacy against MCF-7 cells and antibacterial potential

Abstract

The accelerating fatality rate of breast cancer patients has led to the idea of unconventional therapeutic approach in this work. Here, we report the facile, eco-benign and economically advantageous route for producing iron oxide nanoparticles employing triphala extract (TR-IONPs). MTT assay was used to assess the in-vitro anticancer effectiveness of TR-IONPs against the multi-drug-resistant breast malignant cell (MCF-7). TR-IONPs revealed a concentration-dependent effect on MCF-7 viability, with an IC[Formula: see text] value of 6.8[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/mL for a 24-h treatment. Thus, the cytotoxic ability was established at a much lower half-maximal inhibitory concentration. As the TR-IONPs did not show remarkable toxicity toward L929 fibroblast cells, they can be trusted as a biocompatible material for real-time biomedical applications. Apoptotic death of MCF-7 cells caused by the release of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) was affirmed by DCFH-DA staining, DNA fragmentation assay and cell cycle analysis. Through Kirby–Bauer Disk Diffusion assay, TR-IONPs were found to hold potent antibacterial efficacy against S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa bacterial pathogens. With the demonstrated favorable results, TR-IONPs may serve as a reliable multi-functional material in the field of nanobiotechnology.