A Preliminary in-vitro Evaluation of Serum Capped Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles on Liver Cancer towards Development of Safe Personalized Nanomedicine.

BACKGROUND

Serum-capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), synthesized using naturally occurring serum proteins and reducing agents, represent a green nanotechnology platform with potential for safer and more selective therapy. This study compared the safety and anticancer efficacy of serum-capped AgNPs with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-capped AgNPs.

METHODS

Serum-capped AgNPs (~18 nm, zeta potential -8.9 mV) were synthesized from human serum and administered intravenously in mice (0.1 mL/dose). PVA-capped AgNPs of equivalent silver concentration served as controls. Effects were assessed in a mouse hepatoma model, WRL-68, and Hep-G2, two different liver-derived cell lines using histopathology, biochemical analysis, MTT assay, estimation of proliferative potential by cell cluster formation assay, scratch assay, and hexosamine assays.

RESULTS

Serum-capped AgNPs showed a wider safety margin and lower toxicity in mice and normal WRL-68 cells compared with PVA-capped AgNPs, while exhibiting stronger cytotoxicity against hepatoma and Hep-G2 cancer cells. Treated mice showed improved survival, and favorable histopathological and biochemical profiles indicated reduced systemic toxicity. In the hepatoma model, serum-capped AgNPs, cisplatin, and their combination demonstrated significant anticancer effects, with combination therapy showing the strongest response.

DISCUSSION: Serum-capped AgNPs provide a safer and more selective nanotherapeutic approach by enhancing compatibility with normal host cells while retaining potent anticancer activity. Serum-derived capping improves biological precision and reduces systemic toxicity compared with conventional AgNP formulations. These findings support further investigation of serum-capped AgNPs as potential broad-spectrum anticancer (and antimicrobial) agents and for future personalized nanomedicine applications.