In‑vitro cytotoxicity of biosynthesized nanoceria using Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves extract against MCF‑7 breast cancer cell line

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Liam

Biosynthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria, CNPs) were produced via a green route using the aqueous extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves to support biomedical applications. Microscopy (SEM and TEM) showed a flower-like morphology, while size estimates from X-ray diffraction and TEM yielded 13.43 and 39.25 nm. Biomolecule involvement and nanoparticle formation were corroborated by EDS and FTIR. Cytotoxicity was assessed with the MTT assay and live/dead imaging, demonstrating inhibited MCF‑7 breast cancer cell viability and confirming intracellular uptake by confocal microscopy, consistent with anticancer activity.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

In-vitro cytotoxicity of biosynthesized nanoceria

Green synthesis and characterization

Cytotoxicity evaluation against MCF-7

Cellular uptake and anticancer mechanism

[www. nature.com/scientificreports](www. nature.com/scientificreports) OPEN In‑vitro cytotoxicity of biosynthesized nanoceria using Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves extract against MCF‑7 breast cancer cell line Fatemeh AbediTameh1,2*, Hamza Elsayed Ahmed Mohamed1, Leila Aghababaee3, Mahmood Akbari1*, Shervin AlikhahAsl1, Mohammad Hasan Javadi4, Marique Aucamp5, Karen Jacqueline Cloete1, Janet Soleimannejad2 & Malik Maaza1 Cerium oxide nanoparticles possess unique properties that make them promising candidates in various fields, including cancer treatment. Among the proposed synthesis methods for CNPs, biosynthesis using natural extracts, offers an eco‑friendly and convenient approach for producing CNPs, particularly for biomedical applications. In this study, a novel method of biosynthesis using the aqueous extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves was used to synthesize CNPs. Scanning electron microscopy and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques revealed that the synthesized CNPs exhibit a flower‑like morphology. The particle size ofCNPs obtained using Powder X‑ray diffraction peaks and TEM as 13.43 and 39.25 nm. Energy‑dispersiveX‑ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the effect of biomolecules during the synthesis process and the formation ofCNPs. The cytotoxicity of biosynthesized samples was evaluated using the MTT method demonstrating the potential of these samples to inhibit MCF‑7 cancerous cells. The viability of the MCF‑7 cell line conducted by live/dead imaging assay confirmed the MTT cytotoxicity method and indicated their potential to inhibit cancerous cells. Furthermore, the successful uptake ofCNPs by MCF‑7 cancer cells, as demonstrated by confocal microscopy, provides evidence that the intracellular pathway contributes to the anticancer activity of the CNPs. In general, results indicate that the biosynthesized CNPs exhibit significant cytotoxicity against the MCF‑7 cancerous cell line, attributed to their high surface area. Keywords Nanoceria, MCF-7 cell line, Breast cancer, MTT assay, Biosynthesis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) have become one of the most promising nanomaterials, especially in medical and health fields in the last two decades1. CNPs have some unique physicochemical and biological therapeutic properties such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal2, anti-inflammatory3, anticancer4, antioxidant5, and multienzyme mimic activity6. Depending on surface characteristics and immediate environment, CNPs exert either anti-or pro-oxidative activity which regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in biological systems7,8. These applications are strongly dependent on the chemistry of cerium atoms and CNPs due to their screening effect and the nature of 4f orbitals. It has been reported that cerium can exist in both Ce3+ and Ce4+ oxidation states and due to the ease of switching between Ce3+ and Ce4+ at the nanoparticle surface, CNPs might have the potential of mimicking several natural enzymes, such as superoxide oxidase, catalase, oxidase, and phosphatase. Since these enzymes control intracellular ROS levels, CNPs may be able to prevent the growth of cancer9–12. Numerous 1UNESCO-UNISA-iTLABS Africa Chair in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria 0003, South Africa. 2School of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 141556455, Tehran, Iran. 3Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), Bio Organic, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417614335, Iran. 4Department of Chemistry, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9516, Tehran, Iran. 5School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Drive, Bellville 7130, Cape Town, South Africa. *email: fatemeh_abedi72@ [yahoo.com](yahoo.com); [makbari@tlabs.ac.za](makbari@tlabs.ac.za) [www. nature.com/scientificreports/

FAQs

How were nanoceria nanoparticles synthesized in the study?

Nanoceria (cerium oxide) nanoparticles were biosynthesized using the aqueous extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves.

Which methods were used to characterize the synthesized nanoparticles?

SEM and TEM were used to reveal morphology and particle size, while EDS and FTIR confirmed biomolecule effects during synthesis and formation of the nanoparticles.

How was cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells evaluated?

Cytotoxicity was tested using the MTT method and supported by live/dead imaging, showing reduced viability of MCF-7 cells.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Liam