Preparation and Characterization of Silver Sulfide Nanoparticle (Ag2S)-Coated Chitosan for the Delivery Of Methotrexate

Background: The preparation of nanoparticles with the efficiency of treatment and diagnosis at the same time has received more and more attention in recent years. Metal nanoparticles are one of the best candidates for this purpose. Methods: Silver sulfide nanoparticle (Ag2S) coated with chitosan was synthesized and then methotrexate was loaded, and then the anticancer property of the synthesized nanoparticles was examined on the cancer cells. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using DLS, TEM, FTIR, XRD and UV-Vis techniques. Then, the hemolytic activity of synthesized nanoparticles was evaluated using human red blood cells. Finally, the anticancer effect of synthesized nanoparticles on 4T1 cancer cells was investigated. In this study, Ag2S@CS nanoparticles were synthesized using the mineralization method. Next, methotrexate was loaded in the synthesized nanoparticles. Ag2S@CS-MTX nanoparticles have an average size of approximately 24.02 ± 6.5 nm, with a spherical shape. Results: The synthesized nanoparticles showed a hydrodynamic size of 119.9 nm. The size obtained from DLS analysis is slightly larger than the size obtained from TEM analysis for Ag2S@CS- MTX nanoparticles. Ag2S@CS-MTX nanoparticles have a negative surface charge and tend to repel each other, so they do not show a tendency to aggregate, for this reason it can provide colloidal stability. Conclusion: Examining the toxicity effect of synthesized nanoparticles on 4T1 cell line showed that Ag2S@CS nanoparticles had no significant toxicity effect on 4T1 cell line, but Ag2S@CS- MTX system showed significant toxicity with increasing concentration.