Cytotoxic Potential of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles Functionalized with Glutamic Acid and Conjugated with Thiosemicarbazide (NiO@Glu/TSC) Against Human Gastric Cancer Cells

Gastric cancer is considered a major cause of cancer-associated death, worldwide. Conjugation of thiosemicarbazones with metal nanoparticles (NPs) has been reported to enhance their anti-proliferative effect against cancer cells. This work aimed to synthesize NiO NPs, functionalize them with glutamic acid, and conjugate them with thiosemicarbazide (TSC). Characterization of the NiO@Glu-TSC was performed using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential analysis. Cytotoxicity of the NiO@Glu-TSC NPs toward AGS cells and normal fibroblast cells was investigated using the MTT assay. Apoptosis induction in AGS cells was evaluated using Flow cytometry and Hoechst 33,258 staining assays. The FT-IR results showed the proper binding of TSC to NiO@Glu NPs. The crystallographic structure of the NPs was confirmed based on the XRD pattern. The EDX analysis confirmed the presence of Ni, O, C, N, and S elements. The Hydrodynamic size and zeta potential of the prepared NPs were 256 nm and − 34.2 mv, respectively. The spherical NiO@Glu/TSC NPs were synthesized with an average size of 35 nm in diameter. The cytotoxicity assay showed significantly higher toxicity of the NPs for AGS cells than normal fibroblast cells with IC50 values of 220 and 390 µg/mL, respectively. Cell apoptosis induction was observed among AGS cells treated with the NPs. The NPs treated cells showed late apoptosis with nuclear fragmentation and clumping. This work revealed the efficient anti-proliferative potential of NiO@Glu/TSC cells, which could be used against gastric cancer after further characterization.