Facile Microwave-Assisted Biosynthesis of Arsenic Nanoparticles and Evaluation their Antioxidant Properties and Cytotoxic Effects: A Preliminary in Vitro Study.

Arsenic nanoparticles (As NPs) were biosynthesized in the presence of Ephedra pachyclada Boiss. extract utilizing microwave irradiation as a facile, fast, and green method. UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and FTIR spectroscopy were used to characterize the As NPs. The antioxidant, hemo-compatibility, and cytotoxicity properties of the As NPs were assessed. The hexagonal As NPs possess the size range between 34.5 nm and 85.2 nm. The DPPH scavenging percent of NPs was significantly higher than butylated hydroxyl anisole and Na2HAsO4 at concentrations of 10 µg mL−1 to1280 µg mL− 1 (p < 0.05). As NPs at concentration of 320 µg mL− 1, 640 µg mL− 1, and 1280 µg mL− 1, exhibited hemolysis present equally to 0%, 0.9 ± 0.1%, and 2 ± 0.3%, respectively. After 24 h treatment of HT-29, MCF-7, U87, and 3T3 cell lines with NPs, the IC50 was measured as 47 ± 2 µg mL− 1, 52 ± 3 µg mL− 1, 547 ± 4 µg mL− 1, and 253 ± 3 µg mL− 1, respectively. The IC50 for HT-29, MCF-7, U87, and 3T3 cell lines treated (24 h) with As2O3 was measured as 32 ± 1 µg mL− 1, 6 ± 1 µg mL− 1, 30 ± 1 µg mL− 1, and 1.4 ± 0.1 µg mL− 1, respectively. In order to explain the biological activity of zero-valent As NPs, additional studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]