Evaluation of Cytotoxic Effect of Selenium Nanoparticles (An-SeNP) Obtained by Green Synthesis Method with Inula viscosa L. Extract on Hep-G2 Liver Cancer Cells

Abstract

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is currently one of the most common causes of death worldwide. In this study, the cytotoxic effects of selenium nanoparticles synthesized via green synthesis (An-SeNPs) on the human liver cancer cell line (Hep-G2) were investigated. During the synthesis process, Inula viscosa L. (commonly known as andız) extract was used, and two different synthesis methods were applied. In both methods, a 10 mM SeO₂ solution and andız extract were mixed at a 4:1 ratio and incubated on a magnetic stirrer at 65°C for 12 hours. In the first method, a color change to red was observed in the mixture. From this, 10 mL of the obtained An-SeNPs were used directly, while the remaining portion was centrifuged to separate the nanoparticles. Both centrifuged and non-centrifuged samples were used in cell culture experiments within two days. In the second method, the mixture turned orange, was incubated in an oven for 12 hours, and then stored in the dark at room temperature for 30 days. The An-SeNPs obtained by this method were used in cell experiments without centrifugation. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vi’s spectrophotometry, zeta potential analysis, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). To assess cytotoxic effects, Hep-G2 cells were incubated with different concentrations of An-SeNPs for 24 hours, and cell viability was determined using the MTT assay. In all three applications, An-SeNPs exhibited a statistically significant cytotoxic effect on Hep-G2 cells.