Synthesis of Bio-Active Silver Nanoparticles against Human Lung Cancer Cell Line (A۵۴۹)with Little Toxicity to Normal Cell Line (WRL۶۸)

Nanomaterials are characterized by mechanical, thermal, chemical, biological, and other properties that are different from the basic materials that make them up due to their large surface area to size ratio and quantum effect. There are multiple ways to produce nanomaterials mechanically, chemically, and physically, but they are not safe for the environment. Researchers have sought to find safe methods for the production of nanomaterials, such as green manufacturing, that is, manufacturing nanomaterials from plants. Moreover, there are other sources, such as bacteria or fungi that are used in the production of nanomaterials. This study aimed to try to find an alternative to chemically manufactured drugs, such as those used in the treatment of human cancers, through nanotechnology and from plant sources (green-biosynthesis), which is characterized by abundance and low economic cost. Silver nanoparticles were green-synthesized using an aqueous extract of the licorice plant, their properties were diagnosed, and their differences with the crude aqueous extract were determined. The sizes of nanoparticles were within the range of ۶۰.۲۷-۸۹.۸۰ nm, while the sizes of the crude aqueous extract particles were within the range of ۵۳.۹۶-۱۱۳.۱ nm. Atomic force microscopy was used to find out the shapes, topography, roughness, and protrusions of the surfaces of biosynthesized AgNPs and aqueous extract particles, where the roughness rate of the nanoparticles was ۷۵.۵۴ nm, while it appeared. In vitro test of AgNPs showed a higher anti-lung cancer activity against the A۵۴۹ cell line than that of the extract at an inhibitory concentration for half of the cells used in the experiment (IC۵۰) of ۵۸.۷۸ µg/ml while the IC۵۰ of the extract was ۶۷.۴۴ µg/ml. The results showed that the toxicity of AgNPs on the normal hepatocyte line (WRL۶۸) was less than that of the aqueous extract, with IC۵۰ concentrations of ۲۴۴.۲ and ۱۴۷.۰ µg/ml, respectively. It is worth mentioning that the lower IC۵۰ led to higher toxicity.

Keywords:

A۵۴۹ cell line or WRL۶۸ cell line , Glycyrrhiza glabra L , licorice plant AgNPs , Silver nanoparticles