Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles using Sargassum swartzii and its cytotoxicity effect on HeLa cells

• Synthesis of AuNPs using marine seaweed resulted in 35 nm sized particles.
• The role of biochemical components present in the AuNPs is causing cytotoxicity.
• Gold nanoparticles induced cytotoxicity in term of mitochondrial damage.

In this investigation, biological synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using Sargassum swartzii and its cytotoxicity against human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells is reported. The biological synthesis involved the reduction of chloroauric acid led to the formation of AuNPs within 5 min at 60 °C and the formation of AuNPs was confirmed using UV–vis spectrophotometer. The AuNPs were stable; spherical in shape with well-defined dimensions, and the average size of the particle is 35 nm. A zeta potential value of −27.6 mV revealed synthesized AuNPs were highly stable. The synthesized AuNPs exhibited a dose-dependent cytotoxicity against human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells. Furthermore, induction of apoptosis was measured by DAPI (4′,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride) staining.

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