Preparation of Sulfur Nanoparticles and Investigating their Activities Against Cancer Cells

Sulfur nanoparticles (S NPs) were prepared by a quick precipitation method in the absence and presence of tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOAB) that was used as a stabilizer to control the nanoparticles size. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize S NPs. The average size of S NPs was in the range 2.4 – 8.9 nm, with spherical like shape. The size was controlled the changing the preparation parameters: temperatures, different acid concentration, different acid type and the presence of TOAB stabilizer. The anticancer activity of the prepared S NPs has been tested on various types of cancer cell clones including leukemia, kidney and colon cancers. As a control, the activity of the prepared S NPs was investigated on normal human cell line (Lax cells). The prepared S NPs were found to have selective toxicity to the three cancer cell lines investigated in this study.