Eco-Engineered Gold Nanoparticles Via Laurus Nobilis at Native pH: Toward Multifunctional Nanoformulations for in Vitro Cancer Therapy

Abstract

In this study, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were developed using Laurus nobilis (LN) leaf extract, and their cytotoxic and antimigratory effects were evaluated in vitro to investigate their potential in cancer treatment and wound healing. AuNPs were synthesized by green reduction of HAuCl₄ using LN extract at room temperature. Characterization was carried out by UV-Vis, TEM, SEM, EDX, FTIR and DLS. Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay in four cancer cell lines: A549, MDA-MB-231, SH-SY5Y, and L929. An in vitro wound healing assay using A549 cells was conducted to assess the antimigratory effects. Statistical analysis included IC₅₀ values, effect size (Cohen’s d), AUC, and non-parametric testing. LN-AuNPs showed a sharp plasmon resonance peak (~ 540 nm), narrow size distribution (~ 69 nm), and minimal aggregation. Spectral and elemental data confirmed phytochemical-mediated reduction. LN-AuNPs significantly decreased cell viability in all tested lines, with the lowest IC₅₀ observed in L929 cells (0.02 µg/mL). All groups exhibited large effect sizes and statistical significance. Additionally, LN-AuNPs markedly inhibited cell migration in A549 cells, confirming their antimigratory potential. This is the first study to report both cytotoxic and wound-healing-inhibitory effects of LN-AuNPs. The findings highlight LN-AuNPs as promising green-synthesized nanoplatforms for integrated cancer treatment and regenerative medicine applications.