As per the estimates of American Cancer Society, 1,918,030 new cancer cases are projected to occur in USA alone in 2022. Hence, the overall increase in cancer cases throughout the globe is alarming that warrants effective therapeutic strategy. Although, platinum based drugs like cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, are used for treatment of cancer, they have potential side effects. Hence, the aim of the study was to develop a green route for synthesizing bioactive principles functionalized magnetic nanomaterial with promising anticancer activity. Curcumin functionalized citric acid capped iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were synthesized that inhibited Agrobacterium tumefaciens induced tumors. Further a potent bioactive saponin, diosgenin from Dioscorea bulbifera was functionalized onto magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) core via citric acid linker molecule. FTIR analysis of IONPs-D exhibited signature peaks of diosgenin at 2914, 1166 and 1444 cm^-1, confirming the efficient functionalization of diosgenin. IONPs-D exhibited high (above 50 %) antiproliferative activity against MCF7, which was found to be superior to free citric acid and free diosgenin. Least cell migration (approximately 40 %) on IONPs-D treatment supported its ability to inhibit motility of MCF7 cells as compared to both bare IONPs, and IONPs-CA. Confocal microscopy confirmed that IONPs-D and free diosgenin induced apoptosis which was evident from Alexa Fluor 488 annexin V/PI double-stained cells indicating extensive cell membrane damage coupled with PI influx leading to nuclear staining in treated cells. PARP cleavage was also observed among the treated cells. In view of this background, functionalized IONPs can be considered as novel magnetic nanomaterial with antiproliferative potential against cancer cells that can not only inhibit its migration but also induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells.

Keywords : Curcumin, diosgenin, magnetic nanoparticles, anticancer, apoptosis, antioxidant.

Acknowledgement
Dr. Sougata Ghosh acknowledges Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand for Post Doctoral Fellowship and funding under Reinventing University Program (Ref. No. 6501.0207/9219 dated 14^th September, 2022).

Sirikanjana Thongmee

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