Laser assisted synthesis of inorganic fullerene like MoS2-Au nanohybrid and their cytotoxicity against human monocytic (THP-1) cells

Abstract

Here in, we report the investigation of the immunotoxicity of gold nanoparticles decorated on inorganic fullerene like MoS₂ nanostructure (IFMoS₂- AuNPs) on the THP-1 immune cell line. The MoS₂ nanoparticle with fullerene like nanostructure (IFMoS₂) was synthesized by double pulsed laser-assisted chemical vapour deposition (LCVD) method from bulk MoS₂ at the temperature of 700 °C. The MoS₂ inorganic fullerene-like nanoparticles grown by vapour-solid process (VS). The surface of the IFMoS₂ was decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to develop the semiconductor biocompatibility interface. The IFMoS₂ are typically with diameters 20-50 nm as observed from the electron microscopy analysis. The stability of IFMoS₂-AuNPs were examined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential measurements. The decoration of AuNPs on IFMoS₂ surface was analyzed by UV-Vis, FTIR, PXRD, FESEM, EDX with elemental mapping and HRTEM measurement. The in vitro cytotoxicity evaluation of the FMoS₂-AuNPs was determined on acute monocytic leukemic cells (THP-1) in which cell viability, caspase activity (CASP -3&7/CASP -8/CASP -9) and cell- structural changes were assessed. From FESEM revealed that IFMoS₂-AuNPs induced apoptosis in THP-1 cells. Further, THP-1 cell viability markedly decreased at higher IFMoS₂-AuNPs concentrations (65-100 μg/ml), indicating its potential as a chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of human monocytic leukemia.

Keywords: Apoptosis; AuNPs; Fullerene; IFMoS(2); LCVD; THP-1 cell.