Anticancer and Photocatalytic Activity of Ag-doped TiO2 Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Carica papaya Leaf Extract

In this study, the Ag-incorporated TiO 2 nanoparticles were synthesized using Carica papaya leaf extract, intending to evaluate their potential efficacy against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. The physio-chemical features of the biogenic-produced Ag-TiO 2 nanoparticles are investigated using several analytical techniques, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDAX), Zeta potential analysis, and Particle size analysis. The Ag-TiO 2 nanoparticles exhibit a spherical morphology and possess an average diameter of 8-12 nm. Additionally, their surface is characterized by a negative charge, which contributes to their rough texture. The results of the in-vitro anticancer experiments demonstrated that the Ag-TiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) induce vacuolization in cancer cells, alter the shape of the cell nucleus, degrade nucleic acids, and arrest the synthetic phase of cancer cells in the cell cycle. The degradation capacity of pure and Ag-TiO 2 NPs was also assessed in relation to the degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) dye when exposed to solar irradiation. The results indicated that 3% Ag-TiO 2 shows 63% of dye decolorization within a time frame of 3 hours. Therefore, the synthesized Ag-TiO 2 NPs could reduce toxicity, be eco-friendly and have exceptional utility in two distinct domains that significantly have a major impact on the environment. Graphical Abstract