Antiproliferative effects of 5FU-AgNPs on different breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, and researchers are seeking more effective treatments. Nanotechnology offers a promising approach by creating nanocarriers to reduce the side effects of cancer drugs. This study synthesized AgNPs-5FU nanoparticles by binding the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5FU) to a silver nanocarrier, significantly increasing 5FU's cytotoxicity. Characterization using DLS, SEM, UV-Vis, and FTIR confirmed the nanoparticles' properties, with a size of 18–28 nm and a PDI of 0.598. The release of 5FU from AgNPs-5FU was about 70%, demonstrating sustained and controlled release. Cytotoxicity results showed that AgNPs-5FU had an IC50 value of 23.006 in MCF-7 cells and 10.41 in 4T1 cells, making it 2.14 and 4.64 times more effective than free 5FU, respectively. Low cytotoxicity was observed in HUVEC cells. This study indicates that AgNPs-5FU has significantly higher potential activity against cancer cells compared to free 5FU. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.