Antineoplastic activity of Artemisia annua bio-united Fe₃O₄/CeO₂ on 4T1 breast cancer cells: in vivo and in vitro

Breast cancer has become the most prevalent malignancy among women, and it is estimated to comprise over 30% of all cancer cases diagnosed in women. This study evaluates the antitumor effects of a green-synthesized Fe₃O₄/CeO₂ nanocomposite, utilizing Artemisia annua L. extract, against breast cancer. The viability assay was carried out using 100 to 1000 µg/mL of the as-prepared nanocomposites. The BALB/c mice were injected with 4T1 breast cancer cells and subsequently treated with 5 mg/kg body weight of the synthesized nanocomposites through intraperitoneal injection for two weeks. The in vitro studies on the cell viability and cytotoxicity of Fe₃O₄/CeO₂ nanocomposites demonstrated superior effectiveness of the green-synthesized sample (AFC) compared to the chemically produced variant (FC) against 4T1 cells. Treatment with AFC significantly reduced tumor size in 4T1-injected BALB/c mice compared to untreated control. The IC50 results for FC (890.16 µg/mL) and AFC (490.21 µg/mL) corroborated these findings. Notably, the biointerface provided by the phytomolecules from A. annua extract played a crucial role in enhancing the cytotoxic effects of the nanocomposite. This research highlights the potential of green-synthesized Fe₃O₄/CeO₂ nanocomposites as a safe and effective nanomedicine for targeting cancer cells while minimizing adverse effects on healthy cells.