Cytotoxic activity of bimetallic Ag@Se green synthesized nanoparticles using Jerusalem Thorn (Parkinsonia aculeata)

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> The process of green synthesis of metal nanoparticles is considered to be eco-friendly and cost-effective. <b>Methods:</b> In this study, bimetallic Ag@Se-P and Ag@Se-S nanoparticles were synthesized successfully using <i>Parkinsonia aculeata</i> aerial parts and seed extracts. The phytochemical contents in <i>P. aculeata</i> aerial parts and seed aqueous extract serve as reducing and stabilizing capping agents without the need for any chemical stabilization additive in the synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles. <b>Result and Discussion:</b> The obtained results from UV-vis spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the successful synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles with cluster irregular spherical morphology, crystalline nature, and average particle sizes of 17.65 and 24.36 nm for Ag@Se-S and Ag@Se-P, respectively. The cytotoxicity assessment of greenly synthesized nanomaterials using seed and plant extracts showed cell inhibition >50 μg/mL. Ag@Se-S and Ag@Se-P seed and plant extracts significantly reduced LPS-induced inflammation, which was assessed by NO and cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. The mRNA and protein expression levels of phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) and nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) were significantly overexpressed in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell lines. Ag@Se-S and Ag@Se-P downregulated the expression of PI3K and NFkB in LPS-induced cell models.