Enhanced multifunctionality of CuO nanoparticles synthesized using aqueous leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina plant

Bioinspired synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using aqueous extracts of Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kuetz and their potential biomedical applications

Present study deals with the green fabrication of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) employing cell-free aqueous extract of Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kuetz, freshwater algal species. The UV-visible, FTIR, XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, EDX, BET, XPS and Raman spectroscopic techniques were used to confirm and characterize the biosynthesized CuO NPs. The UV-Vis analysis revealed a sharp peak at 264 nm with a band gap of 3.7 eV, which was attributable to the fabrication of CuO NPs. FESEM and HRTEM detect the spherical-shaped morphology with size between 40 and 50 nm. The biochemical profiling of cell free extract of the C. glomerata by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed the presence of various bioactive biomolecules that may acts as a precursor for the fabrication of CuO NPs. The antibacterial study of fabricated CuO NPs revealed significant growth inhibitory potential against selected bacterial strains Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bacillus cereus with an IC50 value of 10 μg/ml. The synthesized CuO NPs also displayed strong DPPH radical scavenging (IC50 value 11.25 mg/L) and total antioxidant (IC50 value 11 mg/L) properties. Further, the anticancer activity of fabricated CuO NPs was studied employing a human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell line by MTT assay, which marks their ability to diminish the 50% cell with IC50 value of 168.6 µg/ml. Overall, the findings confirmed that CuO NPs fabricated employing cell-free extract of C. glomerata have the potential to be used as active agent in various biomedical applications after further detailed clinical investigations.

A comprehensive study on characterization of biosynthesized copper-oxide nanoparticles, their capabilities as anticancer and antibacterial agents, and predicting optimal docking poses into the cavity of S. aureus DHFR

The eco-friendly method of producing copperـoxide nanoparticles through the use of okra fruit extract is a simple, economical, rapid, and sustainable technique. The resultant copperـoxide nanoparticles (CuO NP) were analyzed with several analytical methods, such as UV-vis spectroscopy, FourierـTransform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Zeta potential, TransmissionـElectron Microscopy (TEM) and EnergyـDispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The CuO NP exhibited a maximum absorbance at 381 nm. The formation of CuO NP was further confirmed by characteristic bands observed at 534 and 588 cm-1. The monoclinic structure of the CuO NP was identified with prominent peaks detected at 2θ values of 32.47°, 35.43°, 38.64°, 48.68°, 53.38°, 58.14°, 61.39°, 66.11°, 67.82°, 72.27°, and 74.96°. The overall findings indicate that the nanoparticles had an average diameter in the approximate range of 10 to 30 nm based on the TEM analysis. The cytotoxicity study, conducted on Human Fibroblast normal HFB4 cell lines, indicated that the halfـmaximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) dose was 236.34 μg/mL. An IC50 dose of 109.46 μg/mL was found in antitumor effect studies using breast adenocarcinoma Mcf- 7 cell lines, revealing a good level of safety for CuO NP. According to the antibacterial study, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus had inhibition zone diameters (IZDs) of 29.5 ± 0.7 mm and 24.6 ± 1.2 mm, respectively, making them the most vulnerable bacteria to CuO NP. In contrast, P. aeruginosa was the least sensitive strain, with a minimum IZD of 15 ± 1.6 mm. Compared to gram-negative infections, the CuO NPs were found to have a significantly higher antibacterial effectiveness versus Gram -positive pathogens. Molecular docking against dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) of Staphylococcus aureus (PDB ID: 6P9Z) illustrated that the CuO NP was partially interlocked with the active site of 6P9Z by the fitting energy value of -44.93 kcal/mol through five classical hydrogen bonds with Ala7, Gln9, Thr46, Ser49, and Phe92. The last one is also generated by the marketing antifolate agent methotrexate (MTX), adding some MTX-like character to the CuO NP inhibitor.

Eco-friendly synthesis of ZnO, CuO, and ZnO/CuO nanoparticles using extract of spent Pleurotus ostreatus substrate, and their antioxidant and anticancer activities

Biosynthesis techniques for nanomaterials have advanced significantly, promoting eco-friendly synthesis chemistry as a sustainable alternative to conventional methods. This study presents a novel and environmentally friendly approach for synthesizing nanoparticulate ZnO, CuO, and ZnO/CuO nanocomposites using aqueous extracts of Pleurotus ostreatus spent substrate, is reported. The structural, optical, and morphological properties of the synthesized NPs were analysed. A hexagonal phase of ZnO NPs and a monoclinic phase of CuO NPs were obtained according to the X-ray diffraction analysis. A reduction in the peak intensity of these metal oxides was observed in the ZnO/CuO NPs due to reduced crystallinity. The absorption spectra, obtained from the UV-vis analysis, showed peaks at 354, 365, and 525 nm for the ZnO, CuO, and ZnO/CuO NPs, respectively. An anticancer assay of the NPs was conducted using human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) and cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell lines, while a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was used for the antioxidant evaluation. The ZnO, CuO, and ZnO/CuO NPs showed higher antioxidant potency with IC50 of 2.15, 2.16, and 3.18 µg/mL, respectively, than the ascorbic acid (4.25 µg/mL). This indicates that the nanoparticles were more effective in capturing DPPH free radicals. Anticancer assays showed strong cytotoxic effects for all nanoparticles, with ZnO NPs exhibiting the highest activity (IC50: 1.94 μM for HEK 293 cells, 3.23 μM for HeLa cells), surpassing CuO and ZnO/CuO NPs. Cell viability for both HEK 293 and HeLa cells decreased as nanoparticle concentration increased, confirming dose-dependent cytotoxicity. The green synthesized metal oxides and their composite have the potential for biomedical applications.

Copper Nanoparticles Green-Formulated by Curcuma longa Extract Induce Apoptosis via P53 and STAT3 Signaling Pathways in Bladder Carcinoma Cell

The study outlines the production of new copper nanoparticles infused with Curcuma longa extract to trigger apoptosis through P53 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathways in bladder carcinoma cells. The structural characteristics of the nanoparticles that were synthesized were analyzed through various sophisticated methods such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). During the antioxidant evaluation, the IC50 values for copper nanoparticles and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals were found to be 116 µg/mL and 31 µg/mL, respectively. The cells treated with copper nanoparticles underwent evaluation through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for 48 h to determine their anticancer properties on TCCSUP bladder carcinoma cell. The TCCSUP cell line exhibited an IC50 of 290 µg/mL when exposed to copper nanoparticles. The viability of malignant cells decreased upon treatment with copper nanoparticles. Furthermore, the copper nanoparticles presence led to a 65-75% increase in cell apoptosis, along with an increase in Bax and cleaved caspase-8 and a decrease in the Bcl-2. Furthermore, the copper nanoparticles presence resulted in the suppression of colony formation. Notably, the molecular pathway analysis in cells treated with copper NPs demonstrated an increase in p53 expression, along with a decrease in the expression of both total and phosphorylated STAT3. This offers that p53 and STAT3 play a crucial role in the biological efficacies induced by the nanoparticles in human carcinoma cells. The data of our research suggest that copper NPs could have significant potential as an anticancer treatment for human bladder carcinoma cells.

Biogenic Synthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles from Aloe vera: Antibacterial Activity, Molecular Docking, and Photocatalytic Dye Degradation

Green synthesis methods offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to producing nanoparticles (NPs), particularly metal-based oxides. This study explores the green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) leaf extract. The characterization revealed a unique sago-shaped morphology revealed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Distinctive metal-oxygen bonds at 521 and 601 cm-1 were confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Furthermore, UV-visible spectroscopy revealed absorbance at 248 nm, suggesting electron transitions across energy bands and varying surface conduction electrons. The band gap value indicated the presence of quantum confinement effects, which were probably caused by the distinctive morphology and surface structure of the biogenic NPs. Additionally, molecular docking studies were carried out against key proteins of Salmonella typhi and Listeria monocytogenes, namely, listeriolysin O (PDB ID: 4CDB), internalin (InlA) (PDB ID: 1O6T), Salmonella effector protein (SopB) (PDB ID: 4DID), and YfdX (PDB ID: 6A07) using AutoDock 4.2. The results revealed binding energies against S. typhi and L. monocytogenes proteins, indicating potential interactions establishing the foundation for further in-depth understanding of the molecular basis underlying the observed antibacterial effects in vitro against S. typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and L. monocytogenes. Antibacterial activity evaluation yielded impressive results, with CuO NPs displaying significant activity against S. typhi and L. monocytogenes, exhibiting zones of inhibition values of 13 ± 0.02 and 15 ± 0.04 mm, respectively. Moreover, the CuO NPs demonstrated remarkable photocatalytic efficacy, resulting in the degradation of 77% of the methylene blue dye when exposed to UV irradiation. This study highlighted the potential of green-synthesized CuO NPs derived from A. vera with their unique morphology, interesting spectroscopic properties, and promising antibacterial and photocatalytic activities.

Chitosan-Integrated Curcumin-Graphene Oxide/Copper Oxide Hybrid Nanocomposites for Antibacterial and Cytotoxicity Applications

This study deals with the facile synthesis of a single-pot chemical technique for chitosan-curcumin (CUR)-based hybrid nanocomposites with nanostructured graphene oxide (GO) and copper oxide (CuO) as the antibacterial and cytotoxic drugs. The physicochemical properties of synthesized hybrid nanocomposites such as CS-GO, CS-CuO, CS-CUR-GO, and CS-CUR-GO/CuO were confirmed with various advanced tools. Moreover, the in vitro drug release profile of the CS-CUR-GO/CuO nanocomposite exhibited sustained and controlled release during different time intervals. Also, the antibacterial activity of the CS-CUR-GO/CuO hybrid nanocomposite presented the maximum bactericidal effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli pathogens. The hybrid nanocomposites revealed improved cytotoxicity behaviour against cultured mouse fibroblast cells (L929) via cell adhesion, DNA damage, and proliferation. Thus, the chitosan-based hybrid nanocomposites offer rich surface area, biocompatibility, high oxidative stress, and bacterial cell disruption functionalities as a potential candidate for antibacterial and cytotoxicity applications.

Improved anti-diabetic and anticancer activities of green synthesized CuO nanoparticles derived from Tabernaemontana divaricate leaf extract

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are among the most commonly employed nanoparticle materials owing to their antibacterial qualities, although their primary mechanism of action (MOA) is still not completely understood. CuO NPs are synthesized in this study using leaf extract of Tabernaemontana divaricate (TDCO3), and they are then analyzed using XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and EDX analysis. The zone of inhibition of TDCO3 NPs against both gram-positive (G+) B. subtilis and gram-negative (G-) K. pneumoniae bacteria was 34 mm and 33 mm, respectively. Furthermore, Cu2+/Cu+ ions promote reactive oxygen species and electrostatically bind with the negatively charged teichoic acid in the bacterial cell wall. The anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetics analysis was conducted using standard BSA denaturation and α-amylase inhibition technique with cell inhibition values of 85.66 and 81.18% for TDCO3 NPs. Additionally, the TDCO3 NPs delivered prominent anticancer activity with the lowest IC50 value 18.2 μg/mL in the MTT assay technique against HeLa cancer cells.

Investigating the Anticancer and Antioxidant Potentials of a Polymer-Grafted Sodium Alginate Composite Embedded with CuO and TiO2 Nanoparticles

In this study, we conducted the synthesis of a composite material by grafting an acrylonitrile-co-styrene (AN-co-St) polymer into sodium alginate and incorporating CuO (copper oxide) and TiO2 (titanium dioxide) nanoparticles. The primary objective was to investigate the potential anticancer and antioxidant activities of the composite material. First, CuO and TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized for their size, morphology, and surface properties. Subsequently, these nanoparticles were integrated into the sodium alginate matrix, which had been grafted with the AN-co-St polymer, resulting in the formation of the composite material. To confirm successful nanoparticle incorporation and assess the structural integrity of the composite, various techniques such as X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed. The composite material’s anticancer and antioxidant activities were then evaluated. In vitro cell viability assays using the HepG-2 cell line were performed to assess potential cytotoxic effects, while antioxidant (DPPH) assays were conducted to determine the composite’s ability to scavenge free radicals and protect against oxidative stress. Preliminary results indicate that the composite material demonstrated promising anticancer and antioxidant activities. The presence of CuO and TiO2 nanoparticles within the composite contributed to these effects, as these nanoparticles are known to possess anticancer and antioxidant properties. Furthermore, the grafting of the AN-co-St polymer into sodium alginate enhanced the overall performance and stability of the composite material.

Plant-mediated synthesis of silver-doped ZnO nanoparticles with high sonocatalytic activity: Sonocatalytic behavior, kinetic and thermodynamic study

Together with the rapid growth of technology, the discharge of wastewater from industry into environment had become a hot topic among society nowadays. More attention had been given to the development of water treatment techniques. In this study, sonocatalysis was proposed to degrade the organic pollutants using silver-doped zinc oxide (Ag-ZnO) nanoparticles which were synthesized via green synthesis process using Clitoria ternatea Linn (Asian Pigeonwings flower). The characterization results revealed that the incorporation of Ag into the ZnO lattice decreased the crystallite size and increased the specific surface area of ZnO nanoparticles. It is noteworthy that about 98% of sonocatalytic degradation efficiency of malachite green (MG) was successfully achieved within 30 min in the presence of 5 wt.% Ag-ZnO with 1.0 g/L of catalyst loading under 500 mg/L of initial dye concentration, 80 W of ultrasonic power, 45 kHz of ultrasound frequency, and 2.0 mM of oxidant concentration. The kinetic study showed that the sonocatalytic degradation of organic dye was fitted well into second-order kinetic model with high R2 value (0.9531). In the thermodynamic study, negative value of standard Gibbs free energy and low value of activation energy (+ 24.43 kJ/mol) were obtained in the sonocatalytic degradation of MG using the green-synthesized Ag-ZnO sample. HIGHLIGHTS: • Facile synthesis of silver-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles using plant extract which act as reducing and stabilizing agents • Optical, physical, and chemical characterization of green-synthesized nanomaterials were performed • Evaluation of sonocatalytic degradation of organic dye using green-synthesized nanomaterials • Sonocatalytic behavior, kinetic and thermodynamic studies of sonocatalytic reaction.

In vitro antioxidant activities of copper mixed oxide (CuO/Cu2O) nanoparticles produced from the leaves of Phoenix dactylifera L

Biosynthesis of antioxidant nanoparticles using plant extracts is a simple, rapid, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective approach. In this study, in vitro antioxidant copper mixed oxide nanoparticles (CuO/Cu2O) were prepared from the alcoholic extract of Phoenix Dactylifera L. and different aqueous concentrations of CuSO4·5H2O. The composition, crystallinity, morphology, and particle size of CuO/Cu2O NPs were tuned by increasing the CuSO4·5H2O concentration from 4 to 10 mM. Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the reduction of CuSO4·5H2O and the formation of the CuO/Cu2O NPs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the crystalline nature of the CuO/Cu2O NPs with a crystallite size varying from 18 to 35 nm. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) showed that the CuO/Cu2O NPs have a spherical morphology with particle sizes ranging from 25 to 100 nm. The best antioxidant CuO/Cu2O NPs have a phase ratio of about 1:1 CuO/Cu2O with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.39 mg/ml, an iron-containing reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of 432 mg EFeSO4/100 mg NPs, and a total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of 65 mg EAA/gNPs. The results suggest that the synthesized CuO/Cu2O NPs are excellent antioxidants for therapeutic applications.

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Recent advances in nanomedicine preparative methods and their therapeutic potential for colorectal cancer: a critical review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy that affects a large percentage of the global population. The conventional treatments for CRC have a number of limitations. Nanoparticles have emerged as a promising cancer treatment method due to their ability to directly target cancer cells and regulate drug release, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy and minimizing side effects. This compilation examines the use of nanoparticles as drug delivery systems for CRC treatment. Different nanomaterials can be used to administer anticancer drugs, including polymeric nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, liposomes, and solid lipid nanoparticles. In addition, we discuss recent developments in nanoparticle preparation techniques, such as solvent evaporation, salting-out, ion gelation, and nanoprecipitation. These methods have demonstrated high efficacy in penetrating epithelial cells, a prerequisite for effective drug delivery. This article focuses on the various targeting mechanisms utilized by CRC-targeted nanoparticles and their recent advancements in this field. In addition, the review offers descriptive information regarding numerous nano-preparative procedures for colorectal cancer treatments. We also discuss the outlook for innovative therapeutic techniques in the management of CRC, including the potential application of nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery. The review concludes with a discussion of current nanotechnology patents and clinical studies used to target and diagnose CRC. The results of this investigation suggest that nanoparticles have great potential as a method of drug delivery for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Novel Green Approaches for the Preparation of Gold Nanoparticles and Their Promising Potential in Oncology

The difficulty of achieving targeted drug delivery following administration of currently marketed anticancer therapeutics is a still a concern. Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) developed through nanotechnology breakthroughs appear to be promising in this regard. Research studies pertaining to gold NPs have indicated their promising applicability in cancer diagnosis, drug delivery and therapy. These NPs have also recently paved the path for precise drug delivery and site-specific targeting. Our review paper thus highlights the scope and impact of biogenetically generated gold nanoparticles (NPs) in cancer therapy. In a critical, constructive, and methodical manner, we compare the advantages offered by gold NPs over other metal NPs. Moreover, we also focus on novel ‘greener’ strategies that have been recently explored for the preparation of gold NPs and shed light on the disadvantages of conventional NP synthesis routes. Future prospects pertaining to the use of gold NPs in oncotherapy and domains that require further investigation are also addressed.

New frontiers in the plant extract mediated biosynthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles and their potential applications: A review

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are one of the most widely used nanomaterials nowadays. CuO NPs have numerous applications in biological processes, medicine, energy devices, environmental remediation, and industrial fields from nanotechnology. With the increasing concern about the energy crisis and the challenges of chemical and physical approaches for preparing metal NPs, attempts to develop modern alternative chemistry have gotten much attention. Biological approaches that do not produce toxic waste and therefore do not require purification processes have been the subject of numerous studies. Plants may be extremely useful in the study of biogenic metal NP synthesis. This review aims to shed more light on the interactions between plant extracts and CuO NP synthesis. The use of living plants for CuO NPs biosynthesis is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly process. To date, the findings have revealed many aspects of plant physiology and their relationships to the synthesis of NPs. The current state of the art and potential challenges in the green synthesis of CuO NPs are described in this paper. This study found a recent increase in the green synthesis of CuO NPs using various plant extracts. As a result, a thorough explanation of green synthesis and stabilizing agents for CuO NPs made from these green sources is given. Additionally, the multifunctional applications of CuO NPs synthesized with various plant extracts in environmental remediation, sensing, catalytic reduction, photocatalysis, diverse biological activities, energy storage, and several organic transformations such as reduction, coupling, and multicomponent reactions were carefully reviewed. We expect that this review could serve as a useful guide for readers with a general interest in the plant extract mediated biosynthesis of CuO NPs and their potential applications.

Formation, antimicrobial activity, and biomedical performance of plant-based nanoparticles: a review

Because many engineered nanoparticles are toxic, there is a need for methods to fabricate safe nanoparticles such as plant-based nanoparticles. Indeed, plant extracts contain flavonoids, amino acids, proteins, polysaccharides, enzymes, polyphenols, steroids, and reducing sugars that facilitate the reduction, formation, and stabilization of nanoparticles. Moreover, synthesizing nanoparticles from plant extracts is fast, safe, and cost-effective because it does not consume much energy, and non-toxic derivatives are generated. These nanoparticles have diverse and unique properties of interest for applications in many fields. Here, we review the synthesis of metal/metal oxide nanoparticles with plant extracts. These nanoparticles display antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. Plant-based nanoparticles are also useful for medical diagnosis and drug delivery.