Plasmonic photothermal effect on cytotoxicity of biogenic nanostructure synthesized through Litchi chinensis Sonn.

Abstract

In this study, we report the biosynthesis of Silver (Ag), Selenium (Se), Silver Selenium (AgSe) and 5FU AgSe nanoparticles by using Litchi chinensis (Sonn) seed extracts and cytotoxicity response of respective nanoparticles in combination with Plasmonic Photo Thermal Therapy (PTT). Biogenic nanoparticles formation was characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The cytotoxic effect of biogenic nanoparticles with and without photothermal effects was studied by CCK8 antineoplastic assay. The apoptotic inducing ability of the biogenic nanoparticles and/or PTT was investigated by Propidium Iodide (PI) staining, Bax/Bcl-2 gene expression analysis using RT-PCR and western blotting. The mean particle size of biosynthesized nanoparticles was found 18–78 nm with polydispersity. TGA demonstrated that lychee seed extracts existed on the surface of biogenic nanoparticles. These results clearly indicate the successful formation of biogenic NPs for cellular uptake. Mitochondrial damage and intracellular ROS production were observed upon treatment with biogenic nanoparticles and PTT (1.0 W cm⁻¹) showed significant cell death, expression of Bax and suppression of Bcl-2. Significantly, biosynthesized nanoparticles showed a broad-spectrum anticancer activity with PTT therapy and therefore represent promoting ROS generation by modulating mitochondrial apoptosis induction in PANC-1 cancer cells.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• green nanoparticles
• biosynthesis
• silver
• selenium
• silver-selenium mixture
• photothermal

Acknowledgement

I would like to pay special thanks to Prof. Jeffery I. Zink (UCLA) for providing me lab facilities. I would like to recognize the assistance that Prof Caius Radu provided during Western blot and RT-PCR study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Role of the funding source

The funding source has no involvement in the study design, data analysis, report writing and the decision to submit this article for publication.

Additional information

Funding

The experimental procedures undertaken in this research project were financially supported by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan under IRSIP program.