Banana peel-derived dendrite-shaped au nanomaterials with dual inhibition toward tumor growth and migration

Abstract

Purpose: In order to prepare functional Au nanoparticles with low toxicity and high antitumor properties, we have used fruit waste (banana peel) to synthesize a new dendriteshaped gold nanoparticle and used it for the treatment of tumors. Methods: Dendrite-shaped gold nanoparticle (Au-dendrite) was synthesized through a facile hydrothermal process. The banana peel was used as both the reducing agent and the protective agent for reducing chloroauric acid to obtainAu-dendrite. The safety assessment of theAu-dendrite was conducted byH&E staining of themouse’s eyelid skin and CCK-8 assay. The antitumor effects were evaluated through in vitro tumor cytotoxicity experiments and in vivo treatment of animal tumors. Results: In this work, a new type of gold nanomaterial (Au-dendrite) was synthesized by using a common agriculturalwaste (banana peel) through a facile hydrothermal processwithout any extra chemical reducing agent or protective agent. Subsequent experiments showed that, compared with some classical Au nanomaterials, the as-synthesized gold nanocomposites have superior biocompatibility and impressive characteristics of dual inhibition toward tumor growth and migration. Conclusion: We successfully synthesized a dendrite-shaped gold nanocomposite which was derived from a common agricultural waste (banana peel). A facile and environmentally friendly synthetic process was proposed accordingly without regular chemical additives. The as-prepared Au-dendrite nanocomposites not only had better biocompatibility than some classical gold nanoparticles but also exhibited unique advantages in tumor inhibition.