A study of the anticancer potential of Pluronic F-127 encapsulated Fe2O3 nanoparticles derived from Berberis vulgaris extract

Abstract The study synthesized Pluronic F-127 nanoparticles that encapsulate Fe 2 O 3 (PF127Fe 2 O 3 NPs), nanoparticles, characterized their formation, and evaluated their cytotoxicity and anticancer activity using Berberis vulgaris leaf extract, using various analytical methods such as FTIR, Ultraviolet-visible, photoluminescence, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, and morphology analysis. We assessed the antioxidant properties of PF127Fe 2 O 3 NPs, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis through 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining in breast cancer cells, such as MCF7, and MDA-MB-231. The characterization results demonstrated that PF-127 was coated with Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles. MTT assay data revealed that PF127Fe 2 O 3 NPs effectively prevent cancer cells from proliferating and act as an anticancer drug. The antimicrobial results revealed that the fabricated nanoparticles are effective against gram-negative ( Klebsiella pneumoniae , Escherichia coli , and Shigella dysenteriae ) and gram-positive ( Streptococcus pneumoniae , Staphylococcus aureus , and Bacillus subtilis ) bacteria. Treatment of PF127Fe 2 O 3 NPs in a dose-dependent manner on MCF7, and MDA-MB-231, exhibited increased antioxidant activity, nuclear damage, and apoptotic activity. These results confirm the apoptotic activity of PF127Fe 2 O 3 NPs. The study concludes that MCF7 appears to be more sensitive to PF127Fe 2 O 3 NPs than MDA-MB-231. In conclusion, we have found that it can be used as an effective antioxidant and anticancer agent in therapeutics.