Biochemical and Histopathological Impact of DMBA-Induced Breast Cancer and Therapeutic Potential of Silk Sericin and Sericin Silver Nanoparticles

Nanotechnology is an emerging field in the therapeutic domain of cancer research. The development of novel anticancer agents in combination with nanotechnology is a highly promising area as it could offer safer and more effective delivery methods for better overall outcomes. Considering this, a naturally occurring silkworm protein (sericin) was combined with nanoparticle formulations to explore the subsequent anticancer effects in breast cancer. In this study, a breast cancer animal mice model was developed by using 7, 12-dimethylbenzneanthracene (DMBA) (a carcinogenic compound) followed by evaluation of the antitumor effects of a natural protein (sericin) and its nanoparticle conjugates. For this purpose, the mice were treated with two different concentrations of individual sericin protein together with conjugated silver nanoparticles (100–200 mg/kg, b.w.). Mice were dissected after 60 days of the treatment, and biochemical results showed that sericin and its conjugated nanoparticles had significant effects against the DMBA-induced carcinogenic group in comparison with the untreated control group. Particularly, sericin-conjugated NPs induced more prominent effects in the animal model. The histopathological analysis of the spleen and mammary tissues showed cytotoxic effects in the DMBA group, and sericin-conjugated NPs were highly effective and minimized the cytotoxic effects of DMBA. Consequently, sericin-conjugated nanoparticles induced more efficient anti–breast tumor effects in animal mice models and have promising future clinical applications in overcoming drug resistance.