Natural synthesis of β-glucan nanoparticles via microwave for breast cancer prevention: a study on oats-derived nanoparticles

This study investigates the antibacterial and cancer-preventive properties of β-glucan nanoparticles (GNP) synthesised from oats using microwave energy, sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP), and silver (Ag). UV–visible spectroscopy indicated a strong surface plasmon resonance peak between 220 and 250 nm for GNP. FTIR analysis identified a band at 609 cm⁻¹, signifying β linkage and confirming the presence of β-glucans. SEM imaging showed that the nanoparticles have smooth surfaces with various forms and sizes ranging from 67 to 129 nm, which aligns with the average size of 76–115 nm determined by particle size analysis. The disc diffusion method revealed significant antibacterial activity of GNP and DNA fragmentation confirmed that GNP induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cell lines. The observed IC50 value (50.41–59.34 µg/ml) indicated the dose at which GNP effectively triggers apoptosis highlighting their potent anticancer effects. The selective cytotoxicity towards cancer cells emphasises the need for further exploration of these nanoparticles for targeted cancer therapy.