{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T05:00:54Z","timestamp":1792040454949,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,29]],"date-time":"2026-03-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774742400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Silver nanoparticles synthesized using natural polysaccharides have received attention for their biocompatibility and potential selective anticancer activity. In this study, the physicochemical properties and biological activity of silver nanoparticles prepared using gums from Acacia senegal (ASS) and Acacia seyal (ASY) were compared. The gums were analyzed to determine their physicochemical characteristics and used as natural reducing and stabilizing agents in nanoparticle synthesis. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized using UV\u2013visible spectroscopy, FTIR, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential analysis. Their cytotoxicity was evaluated in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and HEK-293 normal cells using MTT assay, flow cytometry, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement. Both gums showed properties consistent with Gum Arabic, with a higher protein content in ASS. ASS-derived nanoparticles were smaller and had greater colloidal stability. Both formulations reduced MCF-7 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with lower IC50 values observed for the ASS-based nanoparticles. Apoptosis induction was associated with increased ROS generation. Limited cytotoxicity toward HEK-293 cells resulted in favorable selectivity indices. Acacia gum\u2013mediated silver nanoparticles demonstrate selective anticancer activity, and gum composition significantly influences nanoparticle stability and bioactivity, supporting their potential application in breast cancer nanotherapy.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms27073106","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,30]],"date-time":"2026-03-30T08:22:36Z","timestamp":1774858956000},"page":"3106","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Physicochemical Determinants of Bioactivity in Acacia Gum-Derived Silver Nanoparticles: Enhanced Selective Toxicity Toward MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"27","author":[{"given":"Haifa A.","family":"Alqahtani","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9807-4870","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohammed","family":"Al-Hariri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"209","article-title":"Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries","volume":"71","author":"Sung","year":"2021","journal-title":"CA Cancer J. Clin."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mayrovitz, H.N. (2022). Subtypes of Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer, Exon Publications.","DOI":"10.36255\/exon-publications-breast-cancer"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Al Zomia, A.S., Al Zehefa, I.A.M., Lahiq, L.A., Mirdad, M.T., Alshahrani, A.S., Alshahrani, T., Almahfuth, N.N., Mirdad, M.T., Alqarni, A.A., and Alshareef, N.M. (2024). Tracking the Epidemiological Trends of Female Breast Cancer in Saudi Arabia since 1990 and Forecasting Future Statistics Using Global Burden of Disease Data, Time-Series Analysis. BMC Public Health, 24.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-024-19377-x"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"607","DOI":"10.1007\/s12672-025-02198-8","article-title":"Advancements and Limitations in Traditional Anti-Cancer Therapies: A Comprehensive Review of Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, and Hormonal Therapy","volume":"16","author":"Zafar","year":"2025","journal-title":"Discov. Oncol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"436","DOI":"10.1002\/bit.70105","article-title":"Comparative Analysis of HEK293 Genomic Variability","volume":"123","author":"Smesnik","year":"2026","journal-title":"Biotechnol. Bioeng."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"263","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biologicals.2008.02.002","article-title":"The Tumorigenicity Diversification in Human Embryonic Kidney 293 Cell Line Cultured In Vitro","volume":"36","author":"Shen","year":"2008","journal-title":"Biologicals"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111715","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jphotobiol.2019.111715","article-title":"Biomimetic Gold Nanoparticles for Its Cytotoxicity and Biocompatibility Evidenced by Fluorescence-Based Assays in Cancer (MDA-MB-231) and Non-Cancerous (HEK-293) Cells","volume":"202","author":"Jeyarani","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Photochem. Photobiol. B"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"753","DOI":"10.2147\/IJN.S289008","article-title":"Nanotoxic Effects of Silver Nanoparticles on Normal HEK-293 Cells in Comparison to Cancerous HeLa Cell Line","volume":"16","author":"Liu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Nanomed."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Razavi, Z., Mottaghi, A., Dmitrieva, L., Fallahianshafiei, S., Olfat, E., and Ahmadi, N. (2026). Precision Nanotechnology: Revolutionizing Therapeutic Strategies Against Drug-Resistant Breast Cancer. Ann. Biomed. Eng., ahead of print.","DOI":"10.1007\/s10439-025-03963-0"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ku\u010duk, N., Primo\u017ei\u010d, M., Knez, \u017d., and Leitgeb, M. (2023). Sustainable Biodegradable Biopolymer-Based Nanoparticles for Healthcare Applications. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 24.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms24043188"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"559","DOI":"10.1038\/nmat2780","article-title":"An Orthophosphate Semiconductor with Photooxidation Properties under Visible-Light Irradiation","volume":"9","author":"Yi","year":"2010","journal-title":"Nat. Mater."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Paluch, E., Seniuk, A., Plesh, G., Widelski, J., Szyma\u0144ski, D., Wiglusz, R.J., Motola, M., and Dworniczek, E. (2023). Mechanism of Action and Efficiency of Ag3PO4-Based Photocatalysts for the Control of Hazardous Gram-Positive Pathogens. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 24.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms241713553"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6740325","DOI":"10.1155\/2019\/6740325","article-title":"Shape-Depended Biological Properties of Ag3PO4 Microparticles: Evaluation of Antimicrobial Properties and Cytotoxicity in In Vitro Model\u2014Safety Assessment of Potential Clinical Usage","volume":"2019","author":"Steckiewicz","year":"2019","journal-title":"Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4850","DOI":"10.1002\/cssc.202101359","article-title":"Recent Developments in the Formulation and Use of Polymers and Particles of Plant-Based Origin for Emulsion Stabilizations","volume":"14","author":"Ghavidel","year":"2021","journal-title":"ChemSusChem"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Al-Jubori, Y., Ahmed, N.T.B., Albusaidi, R., Madden, J., Das, S., and Sirasanagandla, S.R. (2023). The Efficacy of Gum Arabic in Managing Diseases: A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Clinical Trials. Biomolecules, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/biom13010138"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"469","DOI":"10.1080\/24701556.2020.1719155","article-title":"Plant Gums for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Nanoparticles: Recent Advances","volume":"50","author":"Iravani","year":"2020","journal-title":"Inorg. Nano-Metal Chem."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.4314\/bcse.v17i1.61734","article-title":"Intra-Species Variation of the Properties of Gum Exudates from Acacia senegal var. senegal and Acacia seyal var. fistula from Tanzania","volume":"17","author":"Mhinzi","year":"2003","journal-title":"Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1535","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-022-05573-5","article-title":"Synthesis and In Vitro Assay of Hydroxyxanthones as Antioxidant and Anticancer Agents","volume":"12","author":"Fatmasari","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"124982","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijbiomac.2023.124982","article-title":"Gum Arabic-Mediated Liquid Exfoliation of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides as Photothermic Anti-Breast Cancer Candidates","volume":"244","author":"Venkatesan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Biol. Macromol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodhyd.2015.04.019","article-title":"Acacia senegal vs. Acacia seyal Gums\u2014Part 1: Composition and Structure of Hyperbranched Plant Exudates","volume":"51","author":"Nigen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Food Hydrocoll."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21213","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-022-24556-0","article-title":"Gum Arabic Nanoformulation Rescues Neuronal Lesions in Bromobenzene-Challenged Rats by Its Antioxidant, Anti-Apoptotic and Cytoprotective Potentials","volume":"12","author":"Almohaimeed","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"2993","article-title":"Selective Cytotoxic Activities of Two Novel Synthetic Drugs on Human Breast Carcinoma MCF-7 Cells","volume":"29","author":"Badisa","year":"2009","journal-title":"Anticancer Res."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Al-Assaf, S., Lukanowski, J., and Tretzel, J. (2019). Gum Arabic from Acacia Seyal. (EP3328901B1), European Patent, Available online: https:\/\/patents.google.com\/patent\/EP3328901B1\/en."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Biswas, P., Dey, D., Biswas, P.K., Rahaman, T.I., Saha, S., Parvez, A., Khan, D.A., Lily, N.J., Saha, K., and Sohel, M. (2022). A Comprehensive Analysis and Anti-Cancer Activities of Quercetin in ROS-Mediated Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 23.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms231911746"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1215395","DOI":"10.1155\/2020\/1215395","article-title":"Green-Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Induced Apoptotic Cell Death in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells by Generating Reactive Oxygen Species and Activating Caspase 3 and 9 Enzyme Activities","volume":"2020","author":"Ullah","year":"2020","journal-title":"Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"579","DOI":"10.1038\/nrd2803","article-title":"Targeting Cancer Cells by ROS-Mediated Mechanisms: A Radical Therapeutic Approach?","volume":"8","author":"Trachootham","year":"2009","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Drug Discov."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"593","DOI":"10.1016\/0891-5849(89)90066-X","article-title":"The Antioxidant Action of N-Acetylcysteine: Its Reaction with Hydrogen Peroxide, Hydroxyl Radical, Superoxide, and Hypochlorous Acid","volume":"6","author":"Aruoma","year":"1989","journal-title":"Free Radic. Biol. Med."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zulkifli, N.I., Muhamad, M., Mohamad Zain, N.N., Tan, W.-N., Yahaya, N., Bustami, Y., Abdul Aziz, A., and Nik Mohamed Kamal, N.N.S. (2020). A Bottom-Up Synthesis Approach to Silver Nanoparticles Induces Anti-Proliferative and Apoptotic Activities Against MCF-7, MCF-7\/TAMR-1 and MCF-10A Human Breast Cell Lines. Molecules, 25.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules25184332"},{"key":"ref_29","first-page":"1","article-title":"Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects of Zerumbone on Wehi 7.2 Wild Type Murine Thymoma Cells","volume":"9","author":"Hamid","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Agric. Sci."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2109","DOI":"10.1002\/ptr.6155","article-title":"Anticancer Potential of Quercetin: A Comprehensive Review","volume":"32","author":"Rauf","year":"2018","journal-title":"Phytother. Res."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Murtaza, M., Tariq, Z., Kamal, M.S., Rana, A., Saleh, T.A., Mahmoud, M., Alarifi, S.A., and Syed, N.A. (2024). Improving Water-Based Drilling Mud Performance Using Biopolymer Gum: Integrating Experimental and Machine Learning Techniques. Molecules, 29.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules29112512"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4980","DOI":"10.1021\/acsami.9b16123","article-title":"One-Pot Sustainable Synthesis of Ce2S3\/Gum Arabic Carbon Flower Nanocomposites for the Detection of Insecticide Imidacloprid","volume":"12","author":"Mutharani","year":"2020","journal-title":"ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17808","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-71175-8","article-title":"Preparation, Characterization and Therapeutic Properties of Gum Arabic-Stabilized Gallic Acid Nanoparticles","volume":"10","author":"Hassani","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"324","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jiph.2020.12.016","article-title":"Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Gum Arabic: Evaluation of Its Inhibitory Action on Streptococcus mutans Causing Dental Caries and Endocarditis","volume":"14","author":"Ranjitsingh","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Infect. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1177390116684686","DOI":"10.1177\/1177390116684686","article-title":"Colorimetric Detection Based on Localised Surface Plasmon Resonance Optical Characteristics for the Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide Using Acacia Gum\u2013Stabilised Silver Nanoparticles","volume":"12","author":"Alzahrani","year":"2017","journal-title":"Anal. Chem. Insights"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.62313\/ijpbp.2022.18","article-title":"Extraction of Bioactive Compound from Acacia Seyal Gum, in Vitro Evaluation of Antitumor Activity of Its Crude Extract against Leukemia","volume":"2","author":"Kabbashi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Plant Based Pharm."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1721","DOI":"10.1007\/s11696-025-04484-9","article-title":"Anticancer Potential of Nano-Engineered Silver Nanoparticle from Acacia Arabica Aqueous Seed Extract against a Prostate PC-3 Cancer Cell Line","volume":"80","author":"Bhagya","year":"2026","journal-title":"Chem. Pap."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hassani, A., Mahmood, S., Enezei, H.H., Hussain, S.A., Hamad, H.A., Aldoghachi, A.F., Hagar, A., Doolaanea, A.A., and Ibrahim, W.N. (2020). Formulation, Characterization and Biological Activity Screening of Sodium Alginate-Gum Arabic Nanoparticles Loaded with Curcumin. Molecules, 25.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules25092244"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1002\/bip.20465","article-title":"Formation of Stable Nanoparticles via Electrostatic Complexation between Sodium Caseinate and Gum Arabic","volume":"82","author":"Ye","year":"2006","journal-title":"Biopolymers"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e24400","DOI":"10.1016\/j.heliyon.2024.e24400","article-title":"Apoptosis Induction Capability of Silver Nanoparticles Capped with Acorus calamus L. and Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. Ex DC. against Lung Carcinoma Cells","volume":"10","author":"Thakkar","year":"2024","journal-title":"Heliyon"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"486","DOI":"10.1007\/s00339-022-05612-y","article-title":"Magnetically Targeted Delivery of Quercetin-Loaded Ca1\u2013xMnxFe2O4 Nanocarriers: Synthesis, Characterization and In Vitro Study on HEK 293-T and MCF-7 Cell Lines","volume":"128","author":"Safari","year":"2022","journal-title":"Appl. Phys. A"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-1759(83)90303-4","article-title":"Rapid Colorimetric Assay for Cellular Growth and Survival: Application to Proliferation and Cytotoxicity Assays","volume":"65","author":"Mosmann","year":"1983","journal-title":"J. Immunol. Methods"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2757","DOI":"10.1007\/s11756-021-00803-z","article-title":"Selective and Oxidative Stress-Mediated Cell Death of MCF-7 Cell Line Induced by Terpinolene","volume":"76","author":"Kig","year":"2021","journal-title":"Biologia"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"499","DOI":"10.1078\/094471103322331458","article-title":"Cytotoxic Activity of Some Lichen Extracts on Murine and Human Cancer Cell Lines","volume":"10","author":"Tomasi","year":"2003","journal-title":"Phytomedicine"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"495","DOI":"10.1080\/01926230701320337","article-title":"Apoptosis: A Review of Programmed Cell Death","volume":"35","author":"Elmore","year":"2007","journal-title":"Toxicol. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-1759(95)00072-I","article-title":"A Novel Assay for Apoptosis. Flow Cytometric Detection of Phosphatidylserine Expression on Early Apoptotic Cells Using Fluorescein Labelled Annexin V","volume":"184","author":"Vermes","year":"1995","journal-title":"J. Immunol. Methods"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"315","DOI":"10.1016\/j.canlet.2008.03.046","article-title":"Multitargeted Cancer Prevention by Quercetin","volume":"269","author":"Murakami","year":"2008","journal-title":"Cancer Lett."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Molecular Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1422-0067\/27\/7\/3106\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,30]],"date-time":"2026-03-30T08:27:43Z","timestamp":1774859263000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1422-0067\/27\/7\/3106"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,29]]},"references-count":47,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]}},"alternative-id":["ijms27073106"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijms27073106","relation":{},"ISSN":["1422-0067"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1422-0067","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,29]]}}}