Green Synthesis of TiO2 and Ag/TiO2 Nanoparticles Using Leaves Extract of Mondia Whitei and Evaluation of Their Cytotoxicity Properties
نویسندگان
1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, South Africa.
2 Food Security and Safety Focus Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, South Africa.
3 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Enugu state, Nigeria.
4 Food Security and Safety Focus Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, South Africa.
5 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, South Africa.
doi
10.22036/ncr.2025.495220.1445چکیده
Advanced materials have emerged as viable alternative and promising remedies for cancer treatment. Nanoparticles synthesized via green routes are eco-friendly with enhanced anticancer properties. This study reports the synthesis of TiO2 and Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles using Mondia whitei leaves extract. Spectro-analytical techniques, including UV–vis spectroscopy, transmission electron/scanning electron microscopy (TEM/SEM), and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), were employed to characterize their optical, morphological, and structural properties. TiO2 showed strong absorption at 325 nm, shifting to 345 nm in Ag/TiO2 with a surface plasmon resonance peak at 440 nm. XRD confirmed the anatase phase for both nanoparticles, with crystallite sizes of 19.31 nm (TiO2) and 23.03 nm (Ag/TiO2). TEM and SEM revealed spherical morphologies. The anticancer potential was assessed using (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) MTT assays on HeLa (cervical carcinoma) and Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) 293 cell lines. Ag/TiO2 exhibited lower IC50 values (HeLa: 38.897 µg/mL; HEK293: 56.885 µg/mL) compared to TiO2 (HeLa: 46.773 µg/mL; HEK293: 80.909 µg/mL). Fluorouracil (5-FU), a standard anticancer drug, showed greater cytotoxicity (HeLa: 17.51 µg/mL; HEK293: 6.26 µg/mL). The nanoparticles exhibited dose-dependent selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells with reduced toxicity in normal cells. Notably, this sustainable synthesis minimizes environmental impact and promotes innovative cancer treatments using natural resources. It offers a green alternative to conventional methods reliant on toxic chemicals, advancing both environmental sustainability and public health.
