In-vitro antibacterial, cytotoxicity, and anti-prostate cancer effects of gold nanoparticles synthesized using extract of desert truffles (Tirmania nivea)

Herein, a cost-effective bio approach using extract derived from desert truffles (Tirmania nivea) is utilized to synthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). AuNPs were thoroughly investigated using UV–vis, XRD, SEM, and TEM analyses. It was shown that nanoparticles had an fcc structure with a smooth spherical surface, an average diameter of 9.44 ± 0.26 nm, and an SPR band observed at 548 nm. Investigations were conducted on AuNPs' antibacterial and anti-cancer properties of prostate cancer cells. The findings suggest that AuNPs showed better antibacterial effects against S. aureus compared to E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae. AuNPs’ combination with antibiotics demonstrated a synergistic effect with significant antibacterial activity. Also, AuNPs show toxicity to the prostate cancer cell line (VCaP). The greatest percentage of inhibition rate of AuNPs to the VCaP cells line was 74.6%.