Anticancer and antibacterial potential of green synthesized BSA conjugated silver nanoparticles

Abstract

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by utilizing different volumes of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and a medicinally important protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA); subsequently, their anticancer and antibacterial activities were investigated. The volume of AgNO₃ and BSA were varied to obtain physically and chemically stable NPs for better therapeutic effects. The synthesized BSA@AgNPs were characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic methods, such as FTIR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy, SEM/EDS, and TEM/SAED. The characterization results offer substantial proof for the successful preparation of non-aggregated stable BSA@AgNPs. The EDS analysis revealed the presence of Ag, C, and O, thus reaffirming the preparation of BSA-conjugated AgNPs. The anticancer efficacy of BSA@AgNPs was studied against colorectal (HCT-116) and HeLa cancerous cell lines. The anticancer results showed that the treatment of cancer cells with BSA@AgNPs decreased the number of cells compared with untreated cells. The NPs prepared with a moderate amount of BSA showed a better inhibiting property than the particles prepared with a high amount of BSA. The antibacterial activity of BSA@AgNPs was studied against gram-positive (S. aureus) and gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria. SEM and TEM analyses confirmed that S. aureus and E. coli cells were damaged upon exposure to BSA@AgNPs in the form of deep pits and cavities as opposed to untreated cells. The obtained results show that the green synthesized BSA@AgNPs could be used as potential anticancer and antibacterial drugs.