Gamma Radiation Assisted Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles-Loaded (Polyacrylamide/Chitosan) Hydrogel Nanocomposites and their Using as Antifungal against Candida albicans and Anti-Cancer Modulator

Abstract Silver nanoparticles-loaded hydrogel nanocomposites are employed for medicinal and pharmaceutical applications.Hydrogel nanocomposites were synthesized from acrylamide (Am), chitosan (CS) and AgNO₃ using gamma irradiation. Different parameters were exploited in synthesis of silver nanoparticles-laoded hydrogel nanocomposites of (PAm/CS)-AgNPs such as effect of irradiation dose and effect of CS concentration. Diverse techniques were used to characterize hydrogel nanocomposites; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy SEM. Results confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles-loaded hydrogel nanocomposites of (PAm/CS)-AgNPs. Antifungal activity of (PAm/CS)-AgNPs hydrogel nanocomposites on viability of C. albicans was assessed. Results showed the efficient microbial inhibition activity of treatment against C. albicans comparable to control. Also, (PAm/CS)-AgNPs hydrogel nanocomposite against cervical cancer HeLa cell line was studied. Cytotoxicity of (PAm/CS)-AgNPs hydrogel nanocomposites on prior cancer cell line led to the prohibition of the cell growth evalauted by the MTT test. The HeLa cancer cell is traeted by (PAm/CS)-AgNPs for 48h showed a possible apoptotic activity by noticeable up-regulation of p53 gene expression. In addition, anticancer activity was examined by down-regulation of platelet-based growth paramater receptor beta (PDGFR-β), Bcl2, Cathepsine, and MMP-2 gene expression.