Chemical characterization, antibacterial, and antiproliferative bioactivities of natural melanin-based quantum dots from Aplysia dactylomela sea hare ink

Mohsen Khataminejad, Ahmad Shadi, Dariush Saberi, Iraj Nabipour, Najmeh Nowrouzi, Nadiar Maratovich Mussin, Mahdi Mahdipour, Sedigheh Hashemnia, Amin Tamadon, Chin Wei Lai

2025

Full text Open access: Hybrid Metadata (CSL-JSON)
DOI 10.1007/s13762-025-06575-2
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

Abstract This study focused on the extraction, isolation, and characterization of natural melanin-based quantum dots (NMQDs) derived from the ink of the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela, with an evaluation of their antibacterial and anticancer properties. NMQDs were successfully obtained and characterized by advanced techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, UV−visible spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The anticancer properties of NMQDs were investigated through the MTT assay on gastric cancer (MNK45) and human colon cancer (SW480) cell lines. Results demonstrated that NMQDs exhibited anti-proliferative effects at higher concentrations, with IC50 values of 75 μg/mL for the SW480 cell line and 223 μg/mL for the MNK45 cell line. In addition they were tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to evaluate antibacterial activity but no significant bactericidal effects were observed. These results highlight the potential role of NMQDs as natural agents in cancer research.