Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Acacia sinuata seed extract and evaluation of their mosquitocidal and anticancer (Caco-2 and MG-63 cell) activity

The field of nanotechnology has shown tremendous potential in delivering ecofriendly solutions for a wide range of applications, such as pest management and pharmaceutics. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have become extremely relevant due to their simple to make, improved bioavailability, and various uses in the medical field. In this investigation, Acacia sinuata silver nanoparticles (As-AgNPs) were synthesized in a simple, cost-effective, and eco-friendly manner utilizing the reducing and capping properties of the Acacia sinuata seed extract. The mosquitocidal potential of As-AgNPs was investigated against Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi larvae, vectors responsible for the transmission of malaria, dengue, and Zika. Furthermore, the anticancer activity of As-AgNPs was assessed against the human cancer cell lines MG-63 and Caco-2. The NPs were verified and identified using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques which included UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The analysis revealed NPs to be stable, crystalline in nature, most of them to be spherical, size ranging from 4 to 26 nm with an average diameter of 15.54 ± 5.36 nm with polydispersity index of 0.34. As-AgNPs exhibited significant mosquitocidal activity, against 3rd instar larvae of Aedes aegypti (LC50 23.03, LC90 38 ppm) and An. stephensi (LC50 28.71, LC90 46 ppm) after 24 h of exposure. The As-AgNPs also exhibited strong anticancer activity against Caco-2 cell lines, with IC50 values of 1.03±0.13 μg/mL and moderate activity against MG-63 cell lines with IC50 values of 21.03±0.24 μg/mL. These findings imply that green synthesized As-AgNPs have potent larvicidal and anticancer properties, making them useful for targeted drug delivery, cancer treatment, and drug design.