Review of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics – International Edition Volume 38 (2024) – Supplementary Issue 2

Abstract
Primary hepatocellular carcinoma is a devastating type of liver cancer. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been assessed for a variety of purposes, including being tested as an anticancer agent. The aim of this study was to assess the cytotoxicity of AgNPs that were biosynthesized from leech saliva on HepG2 cells, through the undertaking of a simple MTT assay. HepG2 cells were obtained from the cell bank of the Pasteur Institute of Iran. In this study, AgNP-treated HepG2 cells were cultured at a density of 10⁴ cells per well, and 100 μL of MTT at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL were added to each well; the treated cells were then let to incubate for 4 h. Subsequently, a plate reader device operating at a wavelength of 570 nm was used in order to determine the concentration of the chemical dissolved in isopropanol. Representative images of the cells show remarkable changes in their morphology at AgNP concentrations of 25 and 50 μg/mL. At 48 h, the nanoparticle’s IC₅₀ value was 50 μg/mL. Our study shows that leech salivary extract-derived AgNPs are cytotoxic to HepG2 cells.

Keywords: MTT assay, LSE-AgNPs, Hirudo medicinalis, HepG2 cells

Please cite as:
Witwit L.J. Cytotoxic effect of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized from Hirudo medicinalis saliva on HepG2 cells. Rev. Clin. Pharmacol. Pharmacokinet. Int. Ed. 38(Sup2):177-179 (2024). https://doi.org/10.61873/RQJC3524