# Development of bioengineered SPIONs using Carica monoica extract: evaluation of antioxidant and anticancer activity of human cervical cancer cells (SiHa)

## TL;DR

This paper describes a new method to create sustainable nanoparticles using Carica monoica extract, which show strong antioxidant and anticancer effects on cervical cancer cells.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel green synthesis method using Carica monoica extract to create SPIONs with dual antioxidant and anticancer properties.

## Key findings

- CM-SPIONs showed significant, dose-dependent antioxidant activity.
- The nanoparticles exhibited potent cytotoxicity against SiHa cervical cancer cells with an IC50 of 22 ± 0.7 μg/ml.
- Cell death was confirmed to be primarily through apoptosis.

## Abstract

This study pioneers the green synthesis of SPIONs using a novel bioresource: Carica monoica leaf extract as a reducing and capping agent. This method not only emphasizes sustainability but also uniquely leverages the specific phytochemical profile of C. monoica to create a synergistic therapeutic platform. Comprehensive characterization using UV-vis, XRD, TEM, EDX, and FTIR, Zeta potential and VSM confirmed the successful creation of hexagonal, superparamagnetic nanoparticles with an average size of 30–50 nm. The biological activity of these CM-SPIONs revealed a dual and potent functionality. Multiple assays showed the nanoparticles have significantly enhanced, dose-dependent antioxidant activity, indicating a nano-bio synergy that amplifies the phytoconstituents’ effects. More importantly, this antioxidant potential translated into selective and potent anticancer efficacy against human cervical cancer (SiHa) cells. MTT assay revealed potent, dose-dependent cytotoxicity with a notably low IC50 value of 22 ± 0.7 μg/ml. Fluorescence microscopy using AO/EtBr and DAPI staining confirmed that the mechanism of cell death was predominantly apoptosis, providing initial mechanistic insight. Thus, CM-SPIONs function as an active nanotherapeutic agent, demonstrating the potential of novel plant biosystems to yield sustainable nanomedicines with dual antioxidant and pro-apoptotic efficacy.