Photosynthesized gold nanoparticles from <i>Catharanthus roseus</i> induces caspase-mediated apoptosis in cervical cancer cells (HeLa)

Bionanotechnology has pivotal role in the development of a novel therapy, applications of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the treatment of cancer. In this study, we found that therapeutics, pharmaceutics and diagnostic effectiveness of photosynthesized Catharanthus roseus (CR) AuNPs induces mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic signalling pathways via reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced cytotoxicity in cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) by in vitro model. The present examinations were for the most part centred around the gold chloride and photosynthesis AuNPs from the fluid leaf concentrate of CR and their harmful impacts on HeLa cell lines. The synthesized AuNPs were characterized using numerous biophysical analyses such as UV-vis, DLS, EDX, HR-TEM, SAED, FTIR and AFM. The synthesized AuNPs in the particle size range of 25-35 nm was confirmed by HR-TEM. The element gold and the crystalline nature of AuNPs were finalized using EDX, respectively. Anticancer potential of CR-AuNPs was studied using HeLa cells and the cytotoxic mechanism has been evaluated using MTT, mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic pathway through AO/EtBr staining assay, pro-apoptotic (Bax), anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2 and Bid) protein expression western blotting analysis and caspases activity using ELISA analysis. In in vitro study, the IC50 of HeLa cells was found to be 5 µg/ml confirmed using MTT assay. The present data revealed that drug delivery vehicles developed on CR-AuNPs nanocomplexes might include extensive purpose in human cancer diagnosis and treatment.