A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Graphitic carbon nitride nanoparticle: g-C3N4 synthesis, characterization, and its biological activity against glioblastoma




AuthorsAlonso, Anxo Vila; Murugesan, Akshaya; Gogoi, Rituporn; Chandrabose, Sureka; Abass, Kasim Sakran; Sharma, Vipul; Kandhavelu, Meenakshisundaram

PublisherElsevier B.V.

Publication year2025

JournalEuropean Journal of Pharmacology

Journal name in sourceEuropean Journal of Pharmacology

Article number177999

Volume1003

ISSN0014-2999

eISSN1879-0712

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.177999

Web address https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.177999

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/499745214


Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride, (g-C3N4), is a polymeric derived carbon-nitrogen molecule, and its derivatives have found extensive application in biomedicine. Synthetic g-C3N4 nanoparticles (GCN-Np) stands out for their anti-cancer activity attributed to their conductivity, strength, chemical and thermal endurance. Here, we investigate the potential mechanism action and efficacy of GCN-Np in glioblastoma cells. The mechanically synthesized g-C3N4 was structurally characterized using Field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-Spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The findings revealed that the GCN-Np displayed C=N stretching, C–N, -NH- and -NH2 functional groups attributed to the graphitic carbon compounds with an average particle size of 300 nm. Cell death analysis indicated that the IC50 concentrations of GCN-Np and TMZ are 4.7 μg/mL and 9.3 μg/mL for LN229, and 15.9961 μg/mL and 16.8 μg/mL for SNB19 GBM cells, respectively. GCN-Np effectively arrested the cell cycle at S phase approximately <50 %, in both GBM cells, thereby preventing the possibility of cell division prior to DNA synthesis. FACS analysis validated the role of GCN-Np and TMZ in eliciting ROS-mediated apoptosis at around 91 % and 93 %, respectively. Finally, the ability of GCN-Np to prevent the migration of GBM cells was observed to be significantly higher than the TMZ. In non-cancerous cells, MEF, GCN-Np demonstrates minimal cytotoxicity, confirming its selective targeting of malignant cells. Overall, the GCN nanoparticles exhibited promising anti-GBM effects with minimal cytotoxicity to non-cancerous MEF cells, suggesting their potential for further therapeutic investigations.


Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.




Funding information in the publication
Authors are thankful to the Materials Research Infrastructure (MARI) and Sustainable Fabrication (SusFab) at the University of Turku for infrastructure facilities.


Last updated on 2025-08-09 at 09:50