Eco-friendly Synthesis of Copper Oxide, Zinc Oxide and Copper Oxide–Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites, and Their Anticancer Applications

Green synthesis and multifunctional properties of Cu/NiO nanocomposites using Commelina benghalensis leaf extract

This study presents the green synthesis and multifunctional properties of Cu/NiO nanocomposites (NCs) fabricated with varying ratios (90:10, 80:20, and 70:30) using Commelina benghalensis leaf extract. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the polycrystalline nature of the NCs, revealing crystallite sizes of 13.62, 13.22, and 7.14 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed rod-shaped and agglomerated particles with sizes ranging from 17.64 to 22.97 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) verified the elemental composition of copper, nickel, oxygen, and carbon. UV-visible spectroscopy determined the energy band gaps to be in the range of 1.24-1.56 eV. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) indicated the presence of bioactive compounds responsible for the reduction of precursor metal salts. The Cu/NiO NCs exhibited remarkable antimicrobial activity, with the 90:10 ratio showing the highest zones of inhibition at 32.76 ± 0.23 mm, 18.66 ± 0.33 mm, and 14.36 ± 0.32 mm against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, respectively. Additionally, the 70:30 Cu/NiO NCs demonstrated superior antioxidant activity, with a radical scavenging efficiency of 83.22%, closely approaching that of ascorbic acid (96.98%). Photocatalytic evaluations revealed that the NCs were highly effective in degrading environmental pollutants, achieving 97.69% degradation of malachite green and 96.52% of congo red under UV light irradiation. The novelty of this work lies in the use of Commelina benghalensis leaf extract as a sustainable and eco-friendly reducing and stabilizing agent for synthesizing Cu/NiO NCs, offering a green alternative to conventional methods. The synergistic effects between Cu and NiO in the different compositions (90:10, 80:20, and 70:30) enhanced the overall antimicrobial and photocatalytic activities, highlighting their potential for environmental remediation applications.

Biogenic synthesis of levofloxacin-loaded copper oxide nanoparticles using Cymbopogon citratus: A green approach for effective antibacterial applications

Despite the success of antibiotics in medicine, the treatment of bacterial infection is still challenging due to emerging resistance and suitable drug delivery system, therefore, innovative approaches focused on nanoparticles based antimicrobial drug delivery systems are highly desired. This research aimed to synthesize Cymbopogon citratus (C. citratus) aqueous extract-mediated copper oxide (CuO-Nps) conjugated with levofloxacin (LFX). The synthesized CuO NPs-LFX nano conjugate was confirmed by analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and infrared and ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy. Antibacterial activities were assessed in vitro through the agar well diffusion method against six bacterial strains of clinical relevance. CuO NPs confirmed by UV-Vis analysis absorption peak observed at 380 nm. TGA analysis showed 8.98% weight loss between the 400-800 ° C temperature range. The functional group's presence was confirmed by FTIR analysis. Spherical shape nanoparticles with an average particle size of 55 nm were recorded by FESEM. Results from agar well diffusion assay showed that CuO NPs-LFX prohibited the development of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria at all established concentrations, and the antibacterial propensity was more pronounced as compared to bare CuO NPs, Levofloxacin and C. citratus aqueous extract alone. The results showed that gram-negative bacteria are more susceptible to CuO NPs-LFX nano conjugate and at 10 μgmL-1 concentration, form a 10.1 mm zone of inhibition (ZOI), whereas gram-positive bacteria on the same concentration form 9.5 mm ZOI. LFX-loaded CuO NPs antibacterial activity was observed higher than plant extract, bare CuO NPs, and standard drug (Levofloxacin). This study provides a novel approach for the fabrication of biogenic CuO NPs with antibacterial drug levofloxacin and their usage as nano antibiotic carriers against pathogenic bacteria, especially antibiotic-resistant microbes.

Facile synthesis of Fe2O3, Fe2O3@CuO and WO3 nanoparticles: characterization, structure determination and evaluation of their biological activity

Due to their high specific surface area and its characteristic's functionalized nanomaterials have great potential in medical applications specialty, as an anticancer. Herein, functional nanoparticles (NPs) based on iron oxide Fe2O3, iron oxide modified with copper oxide Fe2O3@CuO, and tungsten oxide WO3 were facile synthesized for biomedical applications. The obtained nanomaterials have nanocrystal sizes of 35.5 nm for Fe2O3, 7 nm for Fe2O3@CuO, and 25.5 nm for WO3. In addition to octahedral and square nanoplates for Fe2O3, and WO3; respectively. Results revealed that Fe2O3, Fe2O3@CuO, and WO3 NPs showed remarked anticancer effects versus a safe effect on normal cells through cytotoxicity test using MTT-assay. Notably, synthesized NPs e.g. our result demonstrated that Fe2O3@CuO exhibited the lowest IC50 value on the MCF-7 cancer cell line at about 8.876 µg/ml, compared to Fe2O3 was 12.87 µg/ml and WO3 was 9.211 µg/ml which indicate that the modification NPs Fe2O3@CuO gave the highest antiproliferative effect against breast cancer. However, these NPs showed a safe mode toward the Vero normal cell line, where IC50 were monitored as 40.24 µg/ml for Fe2O3, 21.13 µg/ml for Fe2O3@CuO, and 25.41 µg/ml for WO3 NPs. For further evidence. The antiviral activity using virucidal and viral adsorption mechanisms gave practiced effect by viral adsorption mechanism and prevented the virus from replicating inside the cells. Fe2O3@CuO and WO3 NPs showed a complete reduction in the viral load synergistic effect of combinations between the tested two materials copper oxide instead of iron oxide alone. Interestingly, the antimicrobial efficiency of Fe2O3@CuO NPs, Fe2O3NPs, and WO3NPs was evaluated using E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans pathogens. The widest microbial inhibition zone (ca. 38.45 mm) was observed with 250 mg/ml of WO3 NPs against E. coli, whereas using 40 mg/ml of Fe2O3@CuO NPS could form microbial inhibition zone ca. 32.86 mm against S. aureus. Nevertheless, C. albicans was relatively resistant to all examined NPs. The superior biomedical activities of these nanostructures might be due to their unique features and accepted evaluations.

Colloidal stability and dielectric behavior of eco-friendly synthesized zinc oxide nanostructures from Moringa seeds

This study centers on the environmentally benign synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) derived from Zn (CH3COO)2·2H2O and Moringa seeds. The synthesized nanostructures underwent comprehensive characterization utilizing diverse analytical techniques, encompassing X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-VIS spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. XRD measurements coupled with W-H plot transformation unequivocally confirmed the formation of ZnO nanostructures, characterized by an average size of 24.9 nm. UV-VIS spectroscopy, complemented by Kubelka Munk curve analysis, elucidated the direct conduction and determined a bandgap of 3.265 eV. FESEM analysis revealed minimal particle aggregation, showcasing well-defined grain boundaries spanning sizes from 20.4 to 87.7 nm. XPS analysis substantiated the presence of Zn (2p), Zn (3p), Zn (3d), and O (1s). Raman spectroscopy identified E2H as the predominant mode, followed by E1(TO) and (E2H-E2L). ZnO thin films, fabricated via pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and deposited onto silicon (100) substrates, exhibited exemplary morphology and discernible topography, characterized by a normal grain size distribution. Zeta potential tests yielded a value of approximately ([Formula: see text] ~ - 43.8 mV), indicative of the commendable stability of the colloidal suspension, likely attributable to low particle aggregation. Dielectric measurements conducted on sintered pellets at 900 °C unveiled elevated capacitance and dielectric constant at low frequencies across the temperature range of 289.935-310 K. These findings affirm the potential utility of environmentally synthesized ZnO for a spectrum of applications, including energy devices and nanofluids.

Croton macrostachyus Leaf Extract-Mediated Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles and ZnO/CuO Nanocomposites for the Enhanced Photodegradation of Methylene Blue Dye with the COMSOL Simulation Model

The photodegradation of organic pollutants using metal oxide-based catalysts has drawn great attention as an effective method for wastewater treatment. In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and zinc oxide/copper oxide nanocomposites (ZnO/CuO NCs) were fabricated using the leaf extract of Croton macrostachyus as a nontoxic, natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesized samples were characterized by employing X-ray diffraction, microscopic, spectroscopic, and electrochemical methods. The results confirmed the successful synthesis of ZnO NPs and ZnO/CuO NCs with well-defined crystalline structures and morphologies. The prepared samples were tested for the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light irradiation. Compared to ZnO NPs, ZnO/CuO NCs showed greatly improved photocatalytic performances, particularly with the sample prepared with the 20 mol % Cu precursor (97.02%). The enhancement could be related to the formed p-n heterojunction, which can suppress the recombination of charge carriers and extend the photoresponsive range. A theoretical study of the photocatalytic activity of ZnO/CuO NCs against MB dye degradation was also conducted by using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The results of the simulation are in reasonable agreement with those of the experiment. This study contributes to the development of sustainable and effective photocatalytic materials that are suitable for application in environmental remediation, particularly in the treatment of wastewater.

Nature's Green Potential: Anticancer Properties of Plants of the Euphorbiaceae Family

The number of cancer cases will reach 24 million in 2040, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Current treatments for cancer are not effective and selective for most patients; for this reason, new anticancer drugs need to be developed and researched enough. There are potentially useful drugs for cancer isolated from plants that are being used in the clinic. Available information about phytochemistry, traditional uses, in vitro and in vivo experiments with plants, and pure compounds isolated from the Euphorbiaceae family indicates that this family of plants has the potential to develop anticancer drugs. This review examines selected species from the Euphorbiaceae family and their bioactive compounds that could have potential against different types of cancer cells. It reviews the activity of crude extracts, isolated compounds, and nanoparticles and the potential underlying mechanisms of action.

Evolving approaches in glioma treatment: harnessing the potential of copper metabolism modulation

The key properties and high versatility of metal nanoparticles have shed new perspectives on cancer therapy, with copper nanoparticles gaining great interest because of the ability to couple the intrinsic properties of metal nanoparticles with the biological activities of copper ions in cancer cells. Copper, indeed, is a cofactor involved in different metabolic pathways of many physiological and pathological processes. Literature data report on the use of copper in preclinical protocols for cancer treatment based on chemo-, photothermal-, or copper chelating-therapies. Copper nanoparticles exhibit anticancer activity via multiple routes, mainly involving the targeting of mitochondria, the modulation of oxidative stress, the induction of apoptosis and autophagy, and the modulation of immune response. Moreover, compared to other metal nanoparticles (e.g. gold, silver, palladium, and platinum), copper nanoparticles are rapidly cleared from organs with low systemic toxicity and benefit from the copper's low cost and wide availability. Within this review, we aim to explore the impact of copper in cancer research, focusing on glioma, the most common primary brain tumour. Glioma accounts for about 80% of all malignant brain tumours and shows a poor prognosis with the five-year survival rate being less than 5%. After introducing the glioma pathogenesis and the limitation of current therapeutic strategies, we will discuss the potential impact of copper therapy and present the key results of the most relevant literature to establish a reliable foundation for future development of copper-based approaches.

Biosynthesis of Artemisia abyssinica Leaf Extract-Mediated Bimetallic ZnO-CuO Nanoparticles: Antioxidant, Anticancer, and Molecular Docking Studies

Currently, plant extract-mediated synthesized metal oxide nanoparticles (MO NPs) have played a substantial role in biological applications. Hence, this study focused on the eco-benign one-pot synthesis of bimetallic ZnO-CuO nanoparticles (ZC NPs) using the leaf extract of Artemisia abyssinica (LEAA) and evaluations of their anticancer, antioxidant, and molecular binding efficacy. The optical absorption peak at 380 nm from UV-visible (UV-vis) analysis revealed the formation of ZC NPs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed the fabrication of mixed-phase crystals with hexagonal and monoclinic structures of ZC NPs with an average crystallite size of 14 nm. Moreover, the biosynthesis of ZC NPs with a spherical morphology and an average particle size of 13.09 nm was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA) spectroscopy confirmed the involvement of functional groups from LEAA during the synthesis of ZC NPs. ZC NPs have exhibited the ferric ion reducing power (FRAP) with an absorbance of 1.826 ± 0.00 at 200 μg/mL and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) radical scavenging activity of 95.71 ± 0.02% at 200 μg/mL with an IC50 value of 3.28 μg/mL. Moreover, ZC NPs had shown a promising in vitro anticancer activity of 89.20 ± 0.038 at 500 μg/mL with an IC50 value of 33.12 μg/mL against breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. Likewise, ZC NPs have shown strong binding affinity (-8.50 kcal/mol) against estrogen receptor α (ERα) in molecular docking simulations. These findings suggested that the biosynthesized ZC NPs could be used as promising antioxidant and anticancer drug candidates, particularly for breast cancer ailments. However, the in vivo cytotoxicity test will be recommended to ensure further use of ZC NPs.

Impact of Diverse Parameters on the Physicochemical Characteristics of Green-Synthesized Zinc Oxide-Copper Oxide Nanocomposites Derived from an Aqueous Extract of Garcinia mangostana L. Leaf

Compared to conventional metal oxide nanoparticles, metal oxide nanocomposites have demonstrated significantly enhanced efficiency in various applications. In this study, we aimed to synthesize zinc oxide-copper oxide nanocomposites (ZnO-CuO NCs) using a green synthesis approach. The synthesis involved mixing 4 g of Zn(NO3)2·6H2O with different concentrations of mangosteen (G. mangostana) leaf extract (0.02, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05 g/mL) and 2 or 4 g of Cu(NO3)2·3H2O, followed by calcination at temperatures of 300, 400 and 500 °C. The synthesized ZnO-CuO NCs were characterized using various techniques, including a UV-Visible spectrometer (UV-Vis), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM) with an Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyzer. Based on the results of this study, the optical, structural and morphological properties of ZnO-CuO NCs were found to be influenced by the concentration of the mangosteen leaf extract, the calcination temperature and the amount of Cu(NO3)2·3H2O used. Among the tested conditions, ZnO-CuO NCs derived from 0.05 g/mL of mangosteen leaf extract, 4 g of Zn(NO3)2·6H2O and 2 g of Cu(NO3)2·3H2O, calcinated at 500 °C exhibited the following characteristics: the lowest energy bandgap (2.57 eV), well-defined Zn-O and Cu-O bands, the smallest particle size of 39.10 nm with highest surface area-to-volume ratio and crystalline size of 18.17 nm. In conclusion, we successfully synthesized ZnO-CuO NCs using a green synthesis approach with mangosteen leaf extract. The properties of the nanocomposites were significantly influenced by the concentration of the plant extract, the calcination temperature and the amount of precursor used. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers seeking innovative methods for the production and utilization of nanocomposite materials.

Structural, Optical and Antibacterial Activity Studies on CMC/PVA Blend Filled with Three Different Types of Green Synthesized ZnO Nanoparticles

In this work, zinc oxide (ZnO) was produced using extracts of Thymus (Z), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (K), and Daucus carota (G). Furthermore, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were combined with ZnO to form three novel nanocomposites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used for the structural analysis, where the semicrystalline nature of the (CMC/PVA)/ZnO nanocomposites was confirmed. The characteristics functional groups that arose inside the prepared samples were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Evidence for the successful preparation of the pure ZnO particles and their nanocomposites was carried out using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The ZnO nanoparticles are mostly spherical, irregularly distributed, and have radii ranging from 10 to 40 nm. Their anti-bacterial activity was studied against B. subtilis, E. coli, and Candida albicans. The inhibition zones of all the prepared samples against E. coli were 0, 19, 31, and 23 mm for PVA/CMC blend, PVA/CMC/ZnO (Z) (PCZ-Z), PVA/CMC/ZnO (K) (PCZ-K), and PVA/CMC/ZnO (G) (PCZ-G), respectively, compared to the streptomycin control Gram-positive standard with inhibition zone (34 mm). On the other hand, the inhibition zones of the prepared samples against B. subtilis were equal to 0, 26, 33, and 28 mm for CMC/PVA, PCZ-Z, PCZ-K, and PCZ-G, respectively. Based on these results, the PCZ-K sample is the most effective at resisting E. coli (91.17%) and B. subtilis (94.28%). These nanocomposites do not have harmful chemicals, making them strong candidates for use in biological applications.

Green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using Ephedra Alata plant extract and a study of their antifungal, antibacterial activity and photocatalytic performance under sunlight

In the present work, copper oxide (CuO NPs) was synthesized by an eco-friendly, simple, low-cost, and economical synthesis method using Ephedra Alata aqueous plant extract as a reducing and capping agent. The biosynthesized CuO-NPs were compared with chemically obtained CuO-NPs to investigate the effect of the preparation method on the structural, optical, morphological, antibacterial, antifungal, and photocatalytic properties under solar irradiation. The CuO NPs were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-VIS spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) analysis, and field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FESEM-EDX). The photocatalytic activities of biosynthetic CuO-NPs and chemically prepared CuO-NPs were studied using methylene blue upon exposure to solar irradiation. The results showed that the biosynthesized CuO photocatalyst was more efficient than the chemically synthesized CuO-NPs for Methylene Blue (MB) degradation under solar irradiation, with MB degradation rates of 93.4% and 80.2%, respectively. In addition, antibacterial and antifungal activities were evaluated. The disk diffusion technique was used to test the biosynthesized CuO-NPs against gram-negative bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, as well as C. Albicans and S. cerevisiae. The biosynthesized CuO-NPs showed efficient antibacterial and antifungal activity. The obtained results revealed that the biosynthesized CuO-NPs can play a vital role in the destruction of pathogenic bacteria, the degradation of dyes, and the activity of antifungal agents in the bioremediation of industrial and domestic waste.

Synthesis, biomedical applications, and toxicity of CuO nanoparticles

Versatile nature of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) has made them an imperative nanomaterial being employed in nanomedicine. Various physical, chemical, and biological methodologies are in use for the preparation of CuO NPs. The physicochemical and biological properties of CuO NPs are primarily affected by their method of fabrication; therefore, selectivity of a synthetic technique is immensely important that makes these NPs appropriate for a specific biomedical application. The deliberate use of CuO NPs in biomedicine questions their biocompatible nature. For this reason, the present review has been designed to focus on the approaches employed for the synthesis of CuO NPs; their biomedical applications highlighting antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant studies; and most importantly, the in vitro and in vivo toxicity associated with these NPs. This comprehensive overview of CuO NPs is unique and novel as it emphasizes on biomedical applications of CuO NPs along with its toxicological assessments which would be useful in providing core knowledge to researchers working in these domains for planning and conducting futuristic studies. KEY POINTS: • The recent methods for fabrication of CuO nanoparticles have been discussed with emphasis on green synthesis methods for different biomedical approaches. • Antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, and antiviral properties of CuO nanoparticles have been explained. • In vitro and in vivo toxicological studies of CuO nanoparticles exploited along with their respective mechanisms.

Biogenic Synthesis of CuO, ZnO, and CuO-ZnO Nanoparticles Using Leaf Extracts of Dovyalis caffra and Their Biological Properties

Biogenic metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a useful tool in biology due to their biocompatibility properties with most biological systems. In this study, we report the synthesis of copper oxide (CuO), zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs), and their nanocomposite (CuO–ZnO) prepared using the phytochemical extracts from the leaves of Dovyalis caffra (kei apple). The physicochemical properties of these nanomaterials were established using some characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The XRD result confirmed the presence of a monoclinic CuO (Tenorite), and a hexagonal ZnO (Zincite) nanoparticles phase, which were both confirmed in the CuO–ZnO composite. The electron microscopy of the CuO–ZnO, CuO, and ZnO NPs showed a mixture of nano-scale sizes and spherical/short-rod morphologies, with some agglomeration. In the constituent’s analysis (EDX), no unwanted peak was found, which showed the absence of impurities. Antioxidant properties of the nanoparticles was studied, which confirmed that CuO–ZnO nanocomposite exhibited better scavenging potential than the individual metal oxide nanoparticles (CuO, and ZnO), and ascorbic acid with respect to their minimum inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values. Similarly, the in vitro anticancer studies using MCF7 breast cancer cell lines indicated a concentration-dependent profile with the CuO–ZnO nanocomposite having the best activity over the respective metal oxides, but slightly lower than the standard 5-Fluorouracil drug.

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.

Optimization of Facile Synthesized ZnO/CuO Nanophotocatalyst for Organic Dye Degradation by Visible Light Irradiation Using Response Surface Methodology

In this study, we aimed to observe how different operating parameters influenced the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB, cationic dye) and bromophenol Blue (BPB, anionic dye) over ZnO/CuO under visible light irradiation. This further corroborated the optimization study employing the response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD). The synthesis of the ZnO/CuO nanocomposite was carried out using the co-precipitation method. The synthesized samples were characterized via the XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, Raman, and BET techniques. The characterization revealed that the nanostructured ZnO/CuO formulation showed the highest surface area (83.13 m2·g−1). Its surface area was much higher than that of pure ZnO and CuO, thereby inheriting the highest photocatalytic activity. To substantiate this photocatalytic action, the investigative analysis was carried out at room temperature, associating first-order kinetics at a rate constant of 0.0464 min−1 for BPB and 0.07091 min−1 for RhB. We examined and assessed the binary interactions of the catalyst dosage, concentration of dye, and irradiation time. The suggested equation, with a high regression R2 value of 0.99701 for BPB and 0.9977 for RhB, accurately matched the experimental results. Through ANOVA we found that the most relevant individual parameter was the irradiation time, followed by catalyst dose and dye concentration. In a validation experiment, RSM based on CCD was found to be suitable for the optimization of the photocatalytic degradation of BPB and RhB over ZnO/CuO photocatalysts, with 98% degradation efficiency.

Green synthesis of bimetallic ZnO-CuO nanoparticles and their cytotoxicity properties

In this study, a simple and green strategy was reported to prepare bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) by the combination of zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide (CuO) using Sambucus nigra L. extract. The physicochemical properties of these NPs such as crystal structure, size, and morphology were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results suggested that these NPs contained polygonal ZnO NPs with hexagonal phase and spherical CuO NPs with monoclinic phase. The anticancer activity of the prepared bimetallic NPs was evaluated against lung and human melanoma cell lines based on MTT assay. As a result, the bimetallic ZnO/CuO NPs exhibited high toxicity on melanoma cancer cells while their toxicity on lung cancer cells was low.

A Review on Green Synthesis, Characterization and Anticancer Application of Metallic Nanoparticles

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and also the main obstacle of accelerating anticipation. It is globally recognized as overwhelmingly challenging in terms of clinical management. Cancer is taken into account because a prime lethal disease affects different organs of the body. Even with the rapid improvements in the medical sciences, there are no proper medicines to treat specific kinds of cancer. One of the fundamental issues within the malignant growth treatment is the side effect because of conventional treatment systems. Nanotechnology might be an extremely encouraging field for the therapeutic and drug areas; thus, it assumes a crucial part in improving humankind's satisfaction. In the infield of nanotechnology, a plant-mediated fusion of metal nanoparticles has been developed as a substitute to defeat the limitations of traditional synthesis approaches similar to physical and synthetic strategies. These tunable properties of nanomaterials make them progressed apparatuses in the biomedical platform particularly for the improvement of new diagnostics and focused on therapeutics for malignancy.This review incorporates the characterization of nanoparticles with size and shape and features critical uses of biosynthesized green nanomaterials in cancer theranostics.

Plant-Based Biosynthesis of Copper/Copper Oxide Nanoparticles: An Update on Their Applications in Biomedicine, Mechanisms, and Toxicity

Plants are rich in phytoconstituent biomolecules that served as a good source of medicine. More recently, they have been employed in synthesizing metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) due to their capping and reducing properties. This green synthesis approach is environmentally friendly and allows the production of the desired NPs in different sizes and shapes by manipulating parameters during the synthesis process. The most commonly used metals and oxides are gold (Au), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu). Among these, Cu is a relatively low-cost metal that is more cost-effective than Au and Ag. In this review, we present an overview and current update of plant-mediated Cu/copper oxide (CuO) NPs, including their synthesis, medicinal applications, and mechanisms. Furthermore, the toxic effects of these NPs and their efficacy compared to commercial NPs are reviewed. This review provides an insight into the potential of developing plant-based Cu/CuO NPs as a therapeutic agent for various diseases in the future.

Optimization of green biosynthesized visible light active CuO/ZnO nano-photocatalysts for the degradation of organic methylene blue dye

Herein, CuO/ZnO nanocomposites at different ratios were successfully synthesized through a green biosynthesis approach. This was performed by harnessing the fungal-secreted enzymes and proteins during the sol-gel process for nanocomposites seed growth. All fabricated nanoparticles/nanocomposites were characterized using Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDX) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The photocatalytic degradation efficacy of the synthesized nanocomposites was evaluated using a cationic methylene blue (MB) dye as a model of reaction. Results obtained from the FT-IR and EDX analyses revealed that CuO-NPs, ZnO-NPs, CuO/ZnO50/50, CuO/ZnO80/20, and CuO/ZnO20/80 were successfully prepared by harnessing the biomass filtrate of Penicillium corylophilum As-1. Furthermore, XRD and TEM revealed the variation in the particle size of the nanocomposites (10-55 nm) with the ratio of the nanoparticles. Notably, the size of the nanocomposites was proportionally increased with an increasing ratio of ZnO-NPs. XPS analysis affirmed the presence of both Cu and Zn in the nanocomposites with varying binding energies compared with individual nanoparticles. Furthermore, a high photo-degradation efficacy was achieved by increasing the ratio of ZnO-NPs in the nanocomposite formulation, and 97% of organic MB dye was removed after 85 min of irradiation using the CuO/ZnO20/80 nanocomposite.

Anti-Leukemia Activity of Au/CuO/ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized used Verbena officinalis Extract

As biological synthesis has become an alternative to chemical and physical methods for synthesizing nanoparticles, this work describes the synthesis of Au/CuO/ZnO nanoparticles using Verbena officinalis extract. The synthesized Au/CuO/ZnO nanoparticles were characterized using Ultraviolet–Visible, Fourier Transform-Infrared, Transmission Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy. The influence of Au/CuO/ZnO nanoparticles on cell viability was evaluated in vitro, using the established cell line – Jurkat (ATCC® TIB-152™). The Annexin V binding test confirmed the previous results of the MTT assay, which indicate that the studied complex of Au/CuO/ZnO nanoparticles has a strong cytotoxic effect on the Jurkat cell line. The type of death and the effectiveness of cell elimination depended both on the concentration of the complex and the duration of culture.

Phytosynthesized Metallic Nanoparticles-between Nanomedicine and Toxicology. A Brief Review of 2019's Findings

Phytosynthesized nanoparticles represent a continuously increasing field of research, with numerous studies published each year. However, with the emerging interest in this area, the quality of the published works is also continuously increasing, switching from routine antioxidant or antimicrobial studies on trivial microbial lines to antibiotic-resistant strains or antitumoral studies. However, this increasing interest has not been not reflected in the studies regarding the toxicological effects of nanoparticles (NPs); this should be a subject of greatest interest, as the increasing administration of NPs in general (and phytosynthesized NPs in particular) could lead to their accumulation in the environment (soil, water and living organisms). The present review aims to present the most recent findings in the application of phytosynthesized NPs as antimicrobial and antitumoral agents, as well as the results regarding their toxicological potential.