Synthesis of boron-containing nanostructures with Lavandula angustofolia essantial oil and evaluation of biological activity of the nanostructures

Lavandula angustifolia (medicinal lavender) is a plant with strong aromatic and therapeutic properties that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. The element boron, on the other hand, has gained increasing importance in recent years in nanotechnology and biomedical applications due to its low toxicity, biocompatibility, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties, making it a valuable agent in nanostructure synthesis. Meanwhile, Colorectal cancer, one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for more effective and targeted treatment strategies. In this study, boron based nanostructures were synthesized via a green synthesis approach using Lavandula angustifolia essential oil and boric acid under hydrothermal conditions. These nanostructures were evaluated through both physicochemical characterization and cell culture studies. The synthesized nanostructures were characterized using various techniques including Zeta potential analysis (–48.2 mV), dynamic light scattering (DLS; ~344 nm average particle size), UV-Vis, XRD, FTIR. The biological effects of the nanostructures were evaluated in vitro using the MTT assay on HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma and L929 healthy fibroblast cell lines. The nanostructures were found to reduce cell viability in a dose dependent manner. According to the MTT results, the LC₅₀ and LC₁₀₀ values were determined to be 11 µM and 22 µM for HT-29 cells, and 22 µM and 44 µM for L929 cells, respectively. These findings suggest that the synthesized nanostructures exert selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells, indicating their potential as targeted anticancer agents.