Biogenic Synthesis of Modified Frankincense Resin Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles for Enhanced Antioxidant, Antimicrobial Properties and Synergetic In-Vitro Anticancer Efficacy

Abstract

The carboxymethylation of the carboxylic, phenolic, and hydroxyl functional groups of Frankincense resin (FR) has been developed into carboxymethylated Frankincense resin (CMFR). The developed CMFR was used as a stabilizing and reducing agent for the synthesis of innovative CMFR-AuNPs. The antibacterial, antioxidant, and in-vitro anticancer activities were investigated by using CMFR-AuNPs. The designed CMFR and CMFR-AuNPs were characterized by using various techniques. TGA results revealed that the CMFR is thermally more stable than FR. TEM revealed that CMFR - AuNPs were well dispersed, spherical, and hexagonal with an average diameter of 7 to 10 nm, while the size of Doxorubicin loaded (DOX@CMFR-AuNPs) AuNPs was 11 to 13 nm. CMFR-AuNPs demonstrated antioxidative properties by quenching DPPH radicals effectively. CMFR-AuNPs and DOX@CMFR-AuNPs demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, B. subtilis, and E. coli. The cell viability was tested for CMFR -AuNPs at various concentrations of Dox-loaded CMFR -AuNPs (CMFR-AuNPs + Dox1, CMFR-AuNPs + Dox 2, & CMFR-AuNPs + Dox 3). The highest inhibition was observed on MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines using CMFR-AuNPs + Dox 1 and CMFR-AuNPs + Dox 3, respectively. The developed green CMFR-AuNPs are a promising tool for the enhancement of drug loading and anticancer efficacy.

Keywords: Innovative nanoparticle synthesis, carboxymethylated Frankincense resin, Gold nanoparticles, Antioxidant properties, in-vitro anticancer studies.