Citrate reduced gold nanoparticles conjugated with Boswellia sacra and Commiphora myrrha to cause cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells without harming health cells: 'We three things of Orient are'

Globally, breast cancer in women has become a major issue of concern, especially with treatment methods that are harmful to the patients. Though there are preventive measures available, the number of individuals without health care coverage is massive. It was reported that the Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer expressed a concern for an urgent need in cancer control to develop efficient and inexpensive measures for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer (International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, 2013). This research involved the trisodium citrate dihydrate (TSCD) reduction and capping of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to be used as a drug delivery system for Boswellia sacra (BS) and Commiphora myrrha (CM) to induce cytotoxicity in breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 without harming healthy cells. Due to the fact that the nature of AuNPs is to aggregate, the Turkevich/Frens method was used to reduce and cap these particles. The particles were coated with citrate ions which hold a negative charge causing them to repel, preventing aggregation in the blood stream allowing smoother flow to the targeted sites. Characterization and size were confirmed by UV-Visible Spectroscopy at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, and Transmission Electron Microscopy at the High Resolution Imaging Facility at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. A pristine sample of monodispersed gold nanoparticles from 15--20 nm in size was produced. Pure plant extract was obtained and identification confirmed using the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry instruments. Once synthesized, two concentrations of the compound were sent and tested on breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-10A at the Brantley Cancer Research Laboratory at Loma Linda University Health, School of Medicine in Loma Linda, California. Very small percentages of the compound caused a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) reduction in cell viability by 50%. Studies on MCF-10A non-tumorigenic cells proved that the compound caused no harm to healthy cells. This newly developed drug will serve as a natural triple threat to breast cancer by causing cytotoxicity in diseased cells, reducing pain, and inflammation.