Cytotoxicity of Biologically Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles in MDA-MB-231 Human Breast Cancer Cells
In this clinical study, published in the journal BioMedical Research International in 2013, researchers set out to evaluable the toxicity of silver nanoparticles against human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231).
The researchers treated the breast cancer cells with concentrations of 5 ppm to 25 ppm silver nanoparticles for 24 hours. According to the researchers, “Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women…We found that AgNPs inhibited the growth [of the breast cancer cells] in a dose-dependent manner… eventually leading to induction of apoptosis.” In other words, the silver nanoparticles caused the breast cancer cells to self-destruct. And the higher concentrations (25 ppm) worked better than the lower concentrations (5 ppm). The researchers concluded “The present results showed that AgNPs might be a potential alternative agent for human breast cancer therapy.”
