Gold–molybdenum disulfide functional nanocomposites for cervical cancer therapy: in vitro anticancer activity and modulation of pro-apoptotic markers

This study aims to develop the functional nanocomposites (Au–MoS2) for biomedical applications potentially for anticancer activity. The nanocomposite was synthesized via chemical method by integrating gold nanoparticle onto exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed irregular, aggregated MoS2 nanosheets with a porous and rough morphology, decorated by uniformly distributed spherical shaped Au particles. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis confirmed the presence of Mo, S, and Au, indicating the successful formation of the high purity hetero-structured nanocomposite. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the key functional groups and interfacial interactions between the components, while X-ray diffraction pattern showed the crystalline nature of both MoS2 and Au nanoparticles. The biological evaluation indicates moderate cytotoxic activity with an IC50 of 181.7 µg/mL. Morphological observations and fluorescence staining confirmed apoptotic features including chromatin condensation, membrane blebbing, and nuclear fragmentation. Further, the gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of pro-apoptotic markers (Bad and caspases), and downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, highlighting the activation of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. The Au–MoS2 nanocomposite demonstrated combined effects, structural stability, and controlled cytotoxicity, highlighting its potential as an effective platform for targeted cancer therapy and other biomedical applications.