Synthesis, characterization and anti-cancer properties evaluation of silver nanoparticles with lavender (lavandula angustifolia) on human glioblastoma U87MG cells

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common brain tumor in adults. It is one of the most aggressive and the deadliest tumors known. The aim of this study was to perform synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles using Lavandula angustifolia extract and to evaluate anti-cancer properties on U87MG human glioblastoma cancer cells. The synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles was carried out using Lavandula angustifolia aqueous extract. Synthesized silver nanoparticles have been characterized by various analytical techniques such as UV-Visible Spectrophotometer (UV-vis) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). U87mg cells were treated at increased concentrations with Lavandula angustifolia L-AgNPs (0-20 µg/mL) for 72 hours and the anti-cancer effects of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles on U87MG cells were evaluated by MTT testing. Due to increased concentration, L-AgNPs have been observed to increase cell death in human glioblastoma cancer cells compared to the control group. The IC50 value is 7,536 µg/mL. Furthermore, the activation of caspase -3, -8 and -9 in these cells was evaluated by the ELISA method. This study showed that Lavandula angustifolia extract can be used in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles and that biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles can be used as a potential treatment approach in the treatment of glioblastoma.