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Potential of green-synthesized selenium nanoparticles using apigenin in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells

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Abstract

The utilization of novel compounds as cancer treatments offers enormous potential in this field. The advantages of nanomedicine-based therapy include efficient cellular uptake and selective cell targeting. In this study, we employ selenium nanoparticles’ green-synthesized by apigenin (SeNPs-apigenin) to treat breast cancer. We used various assays to show that SeNPs-apigenin can reduce MCF-7 cell viability and trigger apoptosis in vitro. Flow cytometry and PCR methods were used to detect apoptosis, while cell migration and invasion methods were used to quantify the possible effect of SeNPs-apigenin therapy on cell migration and invasion. According to cytotoxicity testing, the SeNPs-apigenin treatment can successfully limit MCF-7 cell proliferation and viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Flow cytometric and PCR analyses revealed that SeNPs-apigenin treatment induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, demonstrating that SeNPs-apigenin treatment could directly target Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 and result in the discharge of cytochrome C from mitochondria into the cytosol, accompanied by the initiation of cell death, leading to permanent DNA damage and killing of MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, treatment with SeNPs-apigenin increased reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress in MCF-7 cells. Our findings indicate that SeNPs-apigenin has cytotoxic potential in the treatment of breast cancer.

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Funding

This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (Saudi Arabia), through the Research Funding Program (Grant No# FRP-1441–2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Aljohra M. Al-Otaibi & Asma S. Al-Gebaly

  2. Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Rafa Almeer & Gadah Albasher

  3. Department of Forensic Sciences, College of Forensic Justice, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Wedad S. Al-Qahtani

  4. Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt

    Ahmed E. Abdel Moneim

Authors
  1. Aljohra M. Al-Otaibi
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  2. Asma S. Al-Gebaly
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  3. Rafa Almeer
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  4. Gadah Albasher
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  5. Wedad S. Al-Qahtani
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  6. Ahmed E. Abdel Moneim
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Contributions

A. M. Al-Otaibi, R. S. Almeer, and A. E. Abdel Moneim designed the project. A. M. Al-Otaibi, A. S. Al-Gebaly, R. S. Almeer, G. Albasher, and W. S. Al-Qahtani performed the experiments. A. E. Abdel Moneim analyzed the data, interpreted the data, and drafted and edited the manuscript. A. M. Al-Otaibi, A. S. Al-Gebaly, R. S. Almeer, G. Albasher, and W. S. Al-Qahtani supplied the chemicals and reagents. All authors read and approved the final draft.

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Correspondence to Ahmed E. Abdel Moneim.

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Al-Otaibi, A.M., Al-Gebaly, A.S., Almeer, R. et al. Potential of green-synthesized selenium nanoparticles using apigenin in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 47539–47548 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19166-2

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