Fucoidan-Based Gold Nanoparticles: Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential from <i>Turbinaria decurrens</i> and <i>Sargassum cinereum</i>

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, while natural antioxidants have emerged as promising therapeutic agents in cancer treatment. Although fucoidan from brown algae shows anticancer potential, its efficacy is limited by bioavailab...

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Main Authors: Ahmed S. El Newehy, Saly F. Gheda, Mona M. Ismail, Dara Aldisi, Mahmoud M. A. Abulmeaty, Mostafa E. Elshobary
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Pharmaceutics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/826
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author Ahmed S. El Newehy
Saly F. Gheda
Mona M. Ismail
Dara Aldisi
Mahmoud M. A. Abulmeaty
Mostafa E. Elshobary
author_facet Ahmed S. El Newehy
Saly F. Gheda
Mona M. Ismail
Dara Aldisi
Mahmoud M. A. Abulmeaty
Mostafa E. Elshobary
author_sort Ahmed S. El Newehy
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, while natural antioxidants have emerged as promising therapeutic agents in cancer treatment. Although fucoidan from brown algae shows anticancer potential, its efficacy is limited by bioavailability challenges, and the synergistic effects of combining it with gold nanoparticles remain unexplored. <b>Methods:</b> Fucoidan was extracted from <i>Sargassum cinereum</i> and <i>Turbinaria decurrens</i>. F-AuNPs were produced utilizing fucoidan as both a reducing and stabilizing agent. The nanoparticles were analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM, XRD, DLS, TAG, and zeta potential evaluation. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and FRAP tests. Cytotoxicity was determined against HepG2, THP-1, and BNL cells, utilizing MTT and SRB tests. Flow cytometry was utilized to assess the cell cycle, while molecular docking was carried out to examine binding to oncogenic proteins. <b>Results</b>: <i>T. decurrens</i> produced higher polysaccharides rich in fucoidan content (235.9 mg/g dry weight) and stated higher antioxidant activity (FRAP: 9.21 μg TE mg<sup>−1</sup>; DPPH: 4.48 μg TE mg<sup>−1</sup>) in comparison to <i>S. cinereum</i>. F-AuNPs showed potent cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells, with IC<sub>50</sub> values and cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells, with IC<sub>50</sub> values of 377.6 μg/mL for <i>S. cinereum</i> and 449.5 μg mL<sup>−1</sup> for <i>T. decurrens</i>. Molecular docking revealed robust binding of fucoidan to COX-2 (−7.1 kcal mol<sup>−1</sup>) and TERT (−5.4 kcal mol<sup>−1</sup>). <b>Conclusions:</b> Fucoidan and F-AuNPs reveal remarkable antioxidant and anticancer properties. Nanoparticle formulation greatly improves bioactivity, underscoring its promise as a synergistic approach for cancer treatment by influencing oxidative stress and cancer-associated pathways.
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spelling doaj-art-c3f98ed36df24aacb97a10f310e3f88e2025-08-20T03:07:55ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232025-06-0117782610.3390/pharmaceutics17070826Fucoidan-Based Gold Nanoparticles: Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential from <i>Turbinaria decurrens</i> and <i>Sargassum cinereum</i>Ahmed S. El Newehy0Saly F. Gheda1Mona M. Ismail2Dara Aldisi3Mahmoud M. A. Abulmeaty4Mostafa E. Elshobary5Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, EgyptBotany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, EgyptNational Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Cairo 4262110, EgyptDepartment of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi ArabiaAquaculture Research, Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, while natural antioxidants have emerged as promising therapeutic agents in cancer treatment. Although fucoidan from brown algae shows anticancer potential, its efficacy is limited by bioavailability challenges, and the synergistic effects of combining it with gold nanoparticles remain unexplored. <b>Methods:</b> Fucoidan was extracted from <i>Sargassum cinereum</i> and <i>Turbinaria decurrens</i>. F-AuNPs were produced utilizing fucoidan as both a reducing and stabilizing agent. The nanoparticles were analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM, XRD, DLS, TAG, and zeta potential evaluation. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and FRAP tests. Cytotoxicity was determined against HepG2, THP-1, and BNL cells, utilizing MTT and SRB tests. Flow cytometry was utilized to assess the cell cycle, while molecular docking was carried out to examine binding to oncogenic proteins. <b>Results</b>: <i>T. decurrens</i> produced higher polysaccharides rich in fucoidan content (235.9 mg/g dry weight) and stated higher antioxidant activity (FRAP: 9.21 μg TE mg<sup>−1</sup>; DPPH: 4.48 μg TE mg<sup>−1</sup>) in comparison to <i>S. cinereum</i>. F-AuNPs showed potent cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells, with IC<sub>50</sub> values and cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells, with IC<sub>50</sub> values of 377.6 μg/mL for <i>S. cinereum</i> and 449.5 μg mL<sup>−1</sup> for <i>T. decurrens</i>. Molecular docking revealed robust binding of fucoidan to COX-2 (−7.1 kcal mol<sup>−1</sup>) and TERT (−5.4 kcal mol<sup>−1</sup>). <b>Conclusions:</b> Fucoidan and F-AuNPs reveal remarkable antioxidant and anticancer properties. Nanoparticle formulation greatly improves bioactivity, underscoring its promise as a synergistic approach for cancer treatment by influencing oxidative stress and cancer-associated pathways.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/826fucoidangold nanoparticlesanticancer activityantioxidant propertiesmolecular dockingbrown seaweed
spellingShingle Ahmed S. El Newehy
Saly F. Gheda
Mona M. Ismail
Dara Aldisi
Mahmoud M. A. Abulmeaty
Mostafa E. Elshobary
Fucoidan-Based Gold Nanoparticles: Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential from <i>Turbinaria decurrens</i> and <i>Sargassum cinereum</i>
Pharmaceutics
fucoidan
gold nanoparticles
anticancer activity
antioxidant properties
molecular docking
brown seaweed
title Fucoidan-Based Gold Nanoparticles: Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential from <i>Turbinaria decurrens</i> and <i>Sargassum cinereum</i>
title_full Fucoidan-Based Gold Nanoparticles: Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential from <i>Turbinaria decurrens</i> and <i>Sargassum cinereum</i>
title_fullStr Fucoidan-Based Gold Nanoparticles: Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential from <i>Turbinaria decurrens</i> and <i>Sargassum cinereum</i>
title_full_unstemmed Fucoidan-Based Gold Nanoparticles: Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential from <i>Turbinaria decurrens</i> and <i>Sargassum cinereum</i>
title_short Fucoidan-Based Gold Nanoparticles: Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential from <i>Turbinaria decurrens</i> and <i>Sargassum cinereum</i>
title_sort fucoidan based gold nanoparticles antioxidant and anticancer potential from i turbinaria decurrens i and i sargassum cinereum i
topic fucoidan
gold nanoparticles
anticancer activity
antioxidant properties
molecular docking
brown seaweed
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/826
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