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Updated: Aug 3, 2025
Anticancer Metal Complexes: Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation by the MTT Assay
Published on: November 10, 2013
Biogenic Synthesis of Cu-Mn Bimetallic Nanoparticles Using Pumpkin Seeds Extract and Their Characterization and
Nouf Omar Alafaleq1, Torki A Zughaibi2,3, Nasimudeen R Jabir4
1Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Background:
Cancer is a chronic, heterogeneous illness that progresses through a spectrum of devastating clinical manifestations and remains the 2nd leading contributor to global mortality. Current cancer therapeutics display various drawbacks that result in inefficient management. The present study is intended to evaluate the anticancer potential of Cu-Mn bimetallic NPs (CMBNPs) synthesized from pumpkin seed extract against colon adenocarcinoma cancer cell line (HT-29).
Methods:
The CMBNPs were biosynthesized by continuously stirring an aqueous solution of pumpkin seed extract with CuSO4 and manganese (II) acetate tetrahydrate until a dark green solution was obtained. The characteristic features of biogenic CMBNPs were assessed by UV-visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A battery of biological assays, viz. neutral red uptake (NRU) assay, in vitro scratch assay, and comet assay, were performed for anticancer efficacy evaluation.
Results:
The formation of spherical monodispersed bimetallic nanoparticles with an average size of 50 nm was recorded using TEM. We observed dose-dependent cytotoxicity of CMBNPs in the HT-29 cell line with an IC50 dose of 115.2 µg/mL. On the other hand, CMBNPs did not show significant cytotoxicity against normal cell lines (Vero cells). Furthermore, the treatment of CMBNPs inhibited the migration of cancer cells and caused DNA damage with a significant increase in comet tail length.
Conclusions:
The results showed substantial anticancer efficacy of CMBNPs against the studied cancer cell line. However, it is advocated that the current work be expanded to different in vitro cancer models so that an in vivo validation could be carried out in the most appropriate cancer model.
Insights
This study shows that copper-manganese bimetallic nanoparticles (CMBNPs) derived from pumpkin seeds effectively target colon cancer cells (HT-29) without harming normal cells. These nanoparticles inhibit cancer cell migration and damage cancer cell DNA.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Cancer is a leading global cause of mortality with limitations in current treatments.
- Developing novel, effective, and safe anticancer agents is a critical research area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the anticancer potential of copper-manganese bimetallic nanoparticles (CMBNPs) synthesized using pumpkin seed extract.
- To assess the efficacy of CMBNPs against the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29).
Main Methods:
- Biosynthesis of CMBNPs using pumpkin seed extract, copper sulfate, and manganese acetate.
- Characterization of CMBNPs using UV-vis, XRD, EDX, SEM, and TEM.
- Evaluation of anticancer activity via neutral red uptake, in vitro scratch, and comet assays.
Main Results:
- Spherical, monodispersed CMBNPs with an average size of 50 nm were synthesized.
- CMBNPs exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against HT-29 cells (IC50 = 115.2 µg/mL) with no significant toxicity to normal Vero cells.
- CMBNPs inhibited cancer cell migration and induced DNA damage in HT-29 cells.
Conclusions:
- CMBNPs demonstrate significant anticancer efficacy against the HT-29 colon cancer cell line.
- Further research is recommended to explore CMBNPs in diverse in vitro cancer models for potential in vivo validation.
