Synergistic Anticancer Activity of WO₃/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites: Structural, Optical, and Mechanistic...

To synthesize tungsten oxide (WO₃) and a WO₃/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite (1:0.5 molar ratio) and investigate their physicochemical properties and anticancer activity against human colon cancer (HT-29) cells.

WO₃ and WO₃/GO (1:0.5) nanocomposites were synthesized using an ex situ hydrothermal method and characterized by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, PL spectroscopy, zeta potential analysis, FESEM, and EDS. Anticancer activity was assessed using MTT cytotoxicity assays, AO/EtBr staining, apoptosis analysis, and ROS generation assays.

The incorporation of GO improved crystallinity, particle dispersion, and charge separation while reducing the optical band gap. The WO₃/GO nanocomposite exhibited the strongest inhibition of HT-29 cell proliferation compared with pristine WO₃ and GO. Enhanced anticancer activity was associated with increased cellular internalization, membrane disruption, and ROS generation. AO/EtBr staining and flow cytometry confirmed significant apoptosis induction, while ROS assays demonstrated elevated intracellular oxidative stress that may contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptotic cell death.

The WO₃/GO nanocomposite (1:0.5) demonstrated enhanced ROS-mediated anticancer activity against HT-29 cells and represents a promising nanotherapeutic platform for colorectal cancer treatment.