Biosynthesis of Au NPs over modified Fe3O4 support using Rubia Tinctorum extract for the treatment of colorectal carcinoma in the in vitro condition: A pre-clinical trial study

In this study, an eco-friendly and low-cost procedure for the synthesis of Rubia Tinctorum plant extract modified magnetic nanocomposite (RT/Fe₃O₄) has been demonstrated. Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) were further decorated in situ over the designed RT/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite exploiting the plant derived phytochemicals as bio-reductant and stabilizer. The resulting Au NPs@RT/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite was characterized by various analytical methods like Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) elemental mapping, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) analysis. The Au NPs@RT/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite has been explored biologically in the anticancer and antioxidant assays. In the antioxidant test, the IC50 of Au NPs@RT/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals were 155 and 129 µg/ml, respectively. In the cellular and molecular part of the recent study, the treated cells with Au NPs@RT/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for 48 h about the cytotoxicity and anti-human colon carcinoma properties on normal (HUVECs), colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29), colorectal carcinoma (HCT 116), ileocecal colorectal adenocarcinoma (HCT-8 HRT-18]), and Burkitt's lymphoma (Ramos.2G6.4C10) cell lines. The viability of malignant colon cell line reduced dose-dependently in the presence of Au NPs@RT/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite. The IC50 of Au NPs@RT/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite were 250, 256, 212, and 197 µg/ml against Ramos.2G6.4C10, HCT-8 HRT-18], HCT 116, and HT-29 cell lines, respectively.