Bimetallic nanoparticles green synthesis from litchi leaf extract: a promising approach for breast cancer treatment

Noble metal nanoparticles have demonstrated promising biomedical and nanomedicine applications, and their bimetallic equivalents from the green synthesis approach are expected to be more promising. This study concerns bimetallic nanoparticle’s synthesis, characterization, and structure-function analysis for their potential application in breast cancer. Silver core (SCNPs) and Gold core (GCNPs) bimetallic nanoparticles were synthesized using Litchi Chinesis leaf extract (LCLE) and characterized using various physio-chemical techniques. The results revealed the successful synthesis of SCNPs and GCNPs with distinct surface plasmon resonance peaks at 551 nm and 531 nm, hydrodynamic sizes of 66 nm and 53 nm, and Zeta potential values of −26.0 mV and −20.6 mV. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of silver and gold phases, while HR-TEM images revealed spherical shapes for SCNPs and heterogenous shapes for GCNPs. Both nanoparticles demonstrated dose and time-dependent inhibition of breast cancer cell growth, with GCNPs requiring a higher concentration than SCNPs at 48 h compared to 24 h. Cell cycle evaluation indicated a cell cycle arrest in the G2M phase for both nanoparticles, an impact on the S phase distribution, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, further contributing to their antiproliferative effects.