Fabrication of Achyranthes aspera extract loaded ZIF-8 nanocomposite for lung cancer treatment, an in vitro assessment.

Abstract

Medicinal plant-based biocompatible nanomaterials have become increasingly important in the healthcare field. Zeolitic imidazole (ZIF-8) frameworks are fascinating porous crystalline materials that have great attention in the field of drug delivery due to their biodegradability, pH sensitivity to changes in acidic conditions, and chemical durability. The development of ZIF-8 particles loaded with Achyranthes aspera extract (AA) and the evaluation of their anticancer properties are the primary findings of this study. Various spectroscopy and macroscopic strategies were utilized to completely investigate the material characteristics of the AA@ZIF-8 nanocomposite. MTT results of the AA@ZIF-8 nanocomposite demonstrated significant anticancer potential against A549 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 63.22 ± 0.03 μg/mL. Fluorescent microscopy investigations have demonstrated that enhanced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can lead to DNA damage, which could be the possible cause for the cytotoxic effects of an AA@ZIF-L nanocomposite on the A549 cells. The materials' biocompatibility has been proven via the Artemia salina acute toxicity test. The Artemia salina acute toxicity assay results confirmed that the nanocomposites' LC₅₀ value was 160.13 ± 2.82 μg/mL, with a nontoxic nature. According to the research findings, AA@ZIF-8 nanocomposite is a promising biocompatible material for drug delivery system for lung cancer therapy and other biomedical applications.