Exploring the anticancer potential of green silver Nanoparticles–Paclitaxel nanocarrier on MCF-7 breast Cancer cells: an in vitro approach

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a potent chemotherapeutic agent limited by poor solubility and adverse effects. To address these challenges, we developed a novel nanocomposite combining PTX purified from the endophytic fungus A. fumigatiaffinis PP235788.1 with biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from the same fungal strain. The PTX-AgNP conjugate (28.48 ± 0.13 nm) was characterized by UV-Vis, XRD, and TEM, revealing monodisperse AgNPs (14.50 ± 0.58 nm) as the core component. In vitro studies demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells (IC₅₀= 1.7 µg/mL, p < 0.001), with 5-10-fold greater efficacy than AgNPs alone. Annexin V/PI staining and DNA fragmentation assays confirmed apoptosis induction, highlighting the conjugate's enhanced anticancer activity. This eco-friendly nano platform synergizes PTX's therapeutic effects with AgNP-mediated targeting, offering a promising strategy to reduce side effects while improving tumor-specific cytotoxicity for advanced cancer therapy.