Anti-cancer effect of Thymus vulgaris based synthesized gold nanoparticles in giant macroporous silica: impact on MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Abstract Conventional cancer therapies, while effective, are frequently associated with significant adverse effects owing to their lack of selectivity, impacting both malignant and healthy cells. To address these challenges, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged as a promising platform for targeted drug delivery. Giant macroporous silica (GMS) is a recently developed material, with its drug delivery potential explored in only a single study to date. In this study, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesized using Thymus vulgaris (garden thyme) extract were incorporated into GMS, forming GMS-AuNPs. Additionally, AuNPs coated with chitosan (AuNPs@CS) were similarly loaded into GMS, resulting in GMS-AuNPs@CS composites. The synthesized materials were characterized through light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The anti-cancer effects of GMS-AuNPs and GMS-AuNPs@CS were assessed against breast cancer cells using real-time cell analysis. Notably, no cytotoxic effects were observed on MCF-12 A normal breast epithelial cells at any of the tested concentrations. GMS-AuNPs demonstrated a dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cells. These findings suggest that GMS-AuNPs hold promise as a potential therapeutic strategy for breast cancer treatment.