Cytotoxic, Apoptotic Efficacy Of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized From Indigofera Aspalathoids
In this clinical study, published in the International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2014 (Vol. 6, Issue 8), researchers studied the effects of silver nanoparticles on hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hep3B, i.e., a liver cancer cell line.
The cancer cells were exposed to 0 to 1,000 ppm of silver nanoparticles for 72 hours. Researchers noted significant cancer cell death, and found that the silver nanoparticles induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner, i.e., the higher the dose, the greater the toxic effect on the cancer cells. Cellular self-destruction began after 24 hours of incubation with silver nanoparticles, which “induced nucleosomal DNA fragmentation of Hep3B cells,” causing cell death. The researchers also noted that “The cytotoxic effects of silver are the result of active physicochemical interaction of silver atoms with the functional groups of intracellular proteins, as well as with the nitrogen bases and phosphate groups in DNA.” They went on to state that the silver nanoparticles “exhibited a significant cytotoxic effect on HEp 3B cell lines in vitro through induction of apoptosis and by inhibiting cell proliferation and angiogenesis.” Finally, the researchers concluded, “Our data suggest that silver nanoparticles…can induce cytotoxic effects on Hep3B cells, inhibiting tumor succession and thereby effectively controlling disease progression without toxicity to normal cells and these agents an effective alternative in tumor and angiogenesis-related diseases.”
