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

Research

Title	Chemical characterization, antibacterial, and antiproliferative bioactivities of natural melanin-based quantum dots from Aplysia dactylomela sea hare ink
Type	Article
Keywords	Melanins · Quantum dots · Aplysia · Ink · Anti-bacterial agents · Antineoplastic agents
Journal	International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-025-06575-2
Researchers	s Khataminejad (First researcher) , Ahmad Shadi (Second researcher) , Dariush Saberi (Third researcher) , Iraj Nabipour (Fourth researcher) , Najmeh Nowrouzi (Fifth researcher) , Mussin Nadiar Maratovich (Not in first six researchers) , Mahdi Mahdipour (Not in first six researchers) , Sedigheh Hashemnia (Not in first six researchers) , amin tamaddon (Not in first six researchers) , Chin Wei Lai (Not in first six researchers)

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.