Controlling Growth of Ultrasmall Sub-10 nm Silver Nanoparticles From Cotinus coggygria Scop. Extract and Evaluation of Its In Vitro Anti-Breast Cancer, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity.

This study highlights the potential use of Cotinus coggygria Scop. plant extract in a single-step synthesis of biocompatible and ultrasmall AgNPs for in vitro applications. Herein, microscopic analyses revealed that AgNP exposure did not induce appreciable morphological changes in CRL-4010 cells, whereas MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited pronounced morphology-associated signs of cytotoxicity. Moreover, a considerable apoptotic effect of AgNPs at the IC50 concentration on MCF-7 cells was apparently observed. Following 48 h of treatment, the AgNPs preferentially induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells, resulting in an approximately 10-fold increase in MCF-7 cells and a 5-fold increase in MDA-MB-231 cells relative to CRL-4010 fibroblasts. The wound healing assay demonstrated substantial scratch closure in CRL-4010 cells, while Ag NP exposure significantly impaired the migratory ability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. These findings indicate that AgNPs effectively restrict cancer cell motility and may contribute to the inhibition of metastatic dissemination. Additionally, AgNPs demonstrated promising antioxidant properties and potent antibacterial activity against both E. coli and S. aureus bacteria.