Effects of green synthesised silver nanoparticles (ST06-AgNPs) using curcumin derivative (ST06) on human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) in vitro and EAC tumor bearing mice models

This paper has been retracted.Kalaimathi Murugesan,*,1 Jinsha Koroth,*,1,2 Padma Priya Srinivasan,1 Amrita Singh,3 Sanjana Mukundan,1 Subhas S Karki,4 Bibha Choudhary,1 Chhitar M Gupta11Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Bangalore, India; 2Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India; 3Water Analysis Laboratory, Nanomaterial Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, India; 4KLE Academy of Higher Education & Research, KLE College of Pharmacy, Bangalore, KN, India*These authors contributed equally to this workBackground: In recent years, green synthesized silver nanoparticles have been increasingly investigated for their anti-cancer potential. In the present study, we aimed at the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a curcumin derivative, ST06. Although, the individual efficacies of silver nanoparticles or curcumin derivatives have been studied previously, the synergistic cytotoxic effects of curcumin derivative and silver nanoparticles in a single nanoparticulate formulation have not been studied earlier specifically on animal models. This makes this study novel compared to the earlier synthesized curcumin derivative or silver nanoparticles studies. The aim of the study was to synthesize ST06 coated silver nanoparticles (ST06-AgNPs) using ST06 as both reducing and coating agent.Methods: The synthesized nanoparticles AgNPs and ST06-AgNPs were characterised for the particle size distribution, morphology, optical properties and surface charge by using UV-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Elemental composition and structural properties were studied by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). The presence of ST06 as capping agent was demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).Results: The synthe