Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Hylocereus undatus peel waste: exploring EGFR inhibition for targeted therapy of cervical and breast carcinomas

Abstract Background Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with breast and cervical cancers being the most common among women. Over 100,000 new cases of breast cancer and 510,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an eco-friendly, low-cost method to synthesize silver nanoparticles using Hylocereus undatus (dragon fruit) peel extract for their anticancer activity. Results Silver nanoparticles loaded with Hylocereus undatus fruit peel extract were successfully developed by a green synthesis technique and were optimized by UV–vis spectroscopy. The nanoparticles had an average size of 71.66 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.3754, and a zeta potential of − 38.52, with a spherical shape and 79.5% silver content. Their maximum absorbance was at 448 nm. Further, in vitro anticancer activity via MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was evaluated and the synthesized nanoparticles displayed IC 50 values at 23.51 µg/ml and 23.66 µg/ml against Hela and MDA MB 231 cell lines, respectively. Cytocompatibility studies showed high cell viability (≥ 95%) in L929 mouse fibroblast cells, indicating low toxicity. In silico analyses, including network pharmacology and molecular docking, identified kaempferol and quercetin as key anticancer compounds, with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (PDB ID: IM17) being the most significant protein target. Docking studies performed by using the Glide module of Schrodinger’s software displayed that kaempferol and quercetin had higher binding affinities for EGFR as compared to the standard drug erlotinib, with MET 769 being a crucial binding site. Conclusion Thus, the outcomes suggest that synthesized silver nanoparticles loaded with Hylocereus undatus fruit peel extract could be a potential and promising drug carrier aiding in cancer treatment.