Phytofabricated Copper Oxide Nanoparticles from Amaranthus tricolor Leaf Extract: Assessing Antioxidant and Anticancer Potentials

Background

This study investigated the biosynthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles (CuONPs) using an environmentally safe and sustainable approach based on Amaranthus tricolor extract.

Materials and Methods

The synthesized CuONPs were characterized using various analytical techniques, including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The antioxidant activity of the CuONPs was assessed using different in vitro assays, including the (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assay and cytotoxicity against MCF7 breast cancer cells.

Results

The presence of several functional groups such as amides, hydroxyl groups, alcohols, and alkenes was verified by Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the morphology of the CuONPs produced from Amaranthus tricolor, which exhibited spherical CuONPs with distinct cell-spreading patterns. The elemental composition of the CuONPs was validated by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), which revealed typical peaks related to Copper (Cu) and Oxygen (O₂). CuONPs demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxicity against MCF7 breast cancer cells, with Inhibitory Concentration (IC50) values of 84.24 g/mL and 76.85 g/mL, respectively. These findings emphasize the potential of CuONPs as selective anticancer agents.

Conclusion

This work demonstrates the effective synthesis and diverse characteristics of CuONPs obtained from Amaranthus tricolor. These discoveries have broad implications in nanomedicine, antibacterial methods, and antioxidants. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the specific cytotoxicity of CuONPs against cancer cells, stressing their potential in targeted cancer therapy.