The potential of novel arsenic nanoparticles containing metformin (MTF@As NPs): a study on their antioxidant and cytotoxic properties

In the present research, arsenic nanoparticles containing metformin (MTF@As NPs) were synthesized by subjecting a mixture of As₂O₃ and sodium borohydride solution to microwave irradiation in the presence of metformin. The physicochemical properties of the prepared nanoparticles were analyzed using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The nanoparticles were assessed for their antioxidant potential, hemocompatibility, and cytotoxic effects. Based on the study's findings, it was found that MTF@As NPs have a size range of 14-38 nm. DPPH scavenging and iron-reducing assays demonstrated that MTF@As NPs exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity than As NPs (80-1280 µg/mL). The study also revealed that nanoparticles were compatible materials that did not induce significant hemolysis in RBCs. According to the study, the concentration required for death of half of the cells (IC₅₀) treated with MTF@As NPs after 24 h was found to be 33.5 ± 2.6 µg/mL and 5.7 ± 0.3 µg/mL for MCF-7, and NIH3T3 cells, respectively. Notably, MTF@As NPs exhibited significantly higher toxicity against MCF-7 cells at higher concentrations (40-1280 µg/mL). This study provides insights into the cytotoxic properties of MTF@As NPs, additional investigation is necessary to fully understand these nanoparticles' underlying biological mechanisms.