The antimicrobial and the antiproliferative effect of human triple negative breast cancer cells using the greenly synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles

Greenly synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were prepared from Spinacia oleracea leaf extract. They were coated with 10% polyethylene glycol (PEG) and conjugated with doxorubicin (DOX). They were characterized by UV–Vis spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). They exhibited a particle size of 29.0 ± 1.2 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.52 ± 0.05, and zeta potential of −12.3 ± 0.1 mV. The absorption spectrum of the greenly synthesized IONPs was endorsed by a characteristic peak at 450 nm. FTIR revealed that DOX conjugated to PEGylated IONPs occurred via the interaction of the –NH2 group of DOX with –OH groups of PEG through hydrogen bonding. PEGylation, as well as DOX conjugation, improved the cytotoxic activity of IONPs on triple-negative breast cancer. Cytotoxic activity of DOX conjugated to PEGylated IONPs was significantly higher than free DOX. Furthermore, the IC50 of DOX conjugated PEGylated IONPs (0.1804 μg/mL) was lower than unloaded PEGylated IONPs (0.2119 μg/mL) and uncoated IONPs (0.3817 μg/mL), which was further verified by a lower percentage of closure area in the scratch test. Moreover, the zones of microbial inhibition of PEGylated and non-PEGylated IONPs were higher than the commonly used antimicrobial agents including ampicillin and gentamycin. In conclusion, the prepared nanoparticles offer potential passive target chemotherapy with lower dose than free DOX.