Biosynthesis and characterization of Lissachatina fulica snail mucus (LfSM)-mediated iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles: Antibacterial and anticancer efficiency

The use of bio and green synthesis of nanoparticles emanates as the eco-friendly and exciting approach. Herein, the facile biosynthesis of iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles using Lissachatina fulica snail mucus (LfSM) was carried out by the one-step synthesis approach. The synthesized LfSM-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were examined by using the UV–vis, FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, AFM, and nitrogen (N₂) adsorption-desorption analyses. The obtained LfSM-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles exhibited a hematite-like crystallite structure with an average crystallite size of ∼30 nm. Further, the antibacterial activity of as biosynthesized LfSM-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were evaluated for the antibacterial activity using the agar well diffusion method against Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacteria. The results showed the zones of inhibition (ZOI) at 40 μL for each bacterial strain among the several bacterial pathogens used: E. coli (13 mm), P. aeruginosa (12 mm), K. pneumoniae (12 mm), and B. subtilis (10 mm). The antibacterial activity of the substance was greatest against E. Coli and lowest against B. subtilis. Using the MTT assay, the substances of the anticancer activity against MCF-7 (breast cancer) cells were also examined in the presence of the prepared LfSM-Fe₂O₃. The cytotoxic response of MCF-7 cells to LfSM-Fe₂O₃ was shown to be concentration-dependent, with an inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 210 µg/mL. The bio efficacy demonstrated by the synthetic materials could lead to its potential use in the environmental and biomedical domains.