Study the inhibition impact of Folic acid-Bi2O3-MgO NPs on HCT116 colorectal cancer cells by inducing cytotoxic, cell migration and antioxidant assay.

BACKGROUND: Progresses in nanotechnology have remarkably contributed to the evaluation of improved strategies for cancer therapy. METHODS: Herein, magnesium oxide-bismuth oxide (Bi2O3-MgO) and folic acid-modified magnesium oxide-bismuth oxide nanoparticles (FA-Bi2O3-MgO NPs) were synthesized through Ferula assa foetida extract as a green reducing agent. The prepared nanomaterials were identified using various analytical techniques, containing powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Zeta potential, and UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. The biological activity of the synthesized materials was evaluated using HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. RESULTS: PXRD analysis revealed that the average crystallite sizes were approximately 43.42 nm for Bi2O3-MgO and 57.90 nm for FA-Bi2O3-MgO NPs, indicating that the presence of folic acid contributed to an increase in particle size. Moreover, the presence of folic acid altered the structural appearance of Bi2O3-MgO NPs, changing their shape from a plate-like to a rod-shaped, with approximately 300-500 nm in length with a diameter around 50-60 nm in FA-Bi2O3-MgO NPs. The zeta potential findings showed a value of -27.9 mV for FA-Bi2O3-MgO NPs, which, compared to the Bi2O3-MgO NPs (-4.3 mV), this indicates an improvement in the colloidal stability of Bi2O3-MgO NPs. Cytotoxicity results indicated a significant decrease in the viability of HCT116 cells treated with FA-Bi2O3-MgO NPs after 24 h, indicating enhanced cytotoxicity potency after folic acid functionalization. FA-Bi2O3-MgO NPs were able to effectively inhibit metastatic behavior in HCT116 cells through significant suppression of cell migration. FA-Bi2O3-MgO NPs showed significant induction of apoptosis, causing 32.18% of cells to undergo apoptosis. Collectively, these in vitro findings demonstrate that FA-Bi2O3-MgO NPs are able to affect important HCT116 cell functions, including suppression of cell migration and activation of apoptotic pathways. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the results indicate that FA-Bi2O3-MgO NPs may serve as promising candidates for therapeutic applications in colon cancer management.