INVESTIGATION OF THE ANTI-CANCER POTENCY OF NANOMEDICINE, GREEN SYNTHESIZED FROM SPIRULINA PLATENSIS, AGAINST BREAST CANCER

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer found in women. Although considerable advances have been achieved in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, medical research routinely thrives towards the development of newer technologies for the treatment of breast cancer. The current study aimed at the development of nanomedicine, in the form of silver nanoparticles from the aqueous extract of algae Spirulina platensis, for the treatment of breast cancer. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles was exhibited by UV-visible spectroscopy, and the nanoparticles were characterized by NTA, FTIR and TEM. The anti-tumor potential of this nanoparticle formulation was evaluated on MCF7 breast cancer cell line and its cytotoxicity was compared with crude aqueous algal extract as well as the recommended breast cancer chemotherapy drugs. The results obtained were promising. NTA analysis indicated a mean particle size of 72 nm. FTIR spectrum showed the presence of alcohol, phenols, carboxyl, and aromatic groups in the nanoparticle formulation, which were responsible for the biological activity. The anti-cancer activity studies revealed that nanoparticle formulation exhibited an IC₅₀ value of 102.9 µg/ml higher than the crude aqueous extract (544 µg/ml), but the potency of this nanoparticle formulation was lower than the commercially available chemotherapy drugs like Abraxane and Amebiciclib. This ascertained the anti-cancer potential of the synthesized silver nanoparticles as effective nanomedicines although further research has to be undertaken to improve the potency of this bio-drug.