Investigation of anti-human ovarian cancer effects of decorated Au nanoparticles on Thymbra spicata extract modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles

This work describes an eco-friendly approach for in situ immobilization of Au nanoparticles on the surface of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, with the help of Thymbra spicata extract and ultrasound irradiations, without using any toxic reducing and capping agents. The combination of Fe₃O₄ NPs and Au NPs in one hybrid nanostructure (Fe₃O₄@Thymbra spicata/Au NPs) represents a promising strategy for targeted biomedical applications. The structure, morphology, and physicochemical properties were characterized by various analytical techniques such as fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). MTT assay was used on common ovarian cancer cell lines i.e., SW-626, PA-1, and SK-OV-3 to survey the cytotoxicity and anti-ovarian cancer effects of Fe₃O₄@Thymbra spicata/Au NPs. The best results of cytotoxicity and anti-ovarian cancer properties were seen in the concentration of 1000 µg/mL. Fe₃O₄@ Thymbra spicata/Au NPs had very low cell viability and high anti-ovarian cancer activities dose-dependently against PA-1, SW-626, and SK-OV-3 cell lines without any cytotoxicity on the normal cell line (HUVEC). For investigating the antioxidant properties of Fe₃O₄@ Thymbra spicata/Au NPs, the DPPH test was used in the presence of butylated hydroxytoluene as the positive control. Fe₃O₄@Thymbra spicata/Au NPs inhibited half of the DPPH molecules in the concentration of 107 µg/mL. Maybe significant anti-human ovarian cancer potentials of Fe₃O₄@Thymbra spicata/Au NPs against common human ovarian cancer cell lines are linked to their antioxidant activities. After confirming the above results in the clinical trial researches, this formulation can be administrated for the treatment of several types of human ovarian cancers in humans.