Publication

Abstract : The use of copper oxide nanoparticles (NPs) in cancer treatment and diagnosis is a rapidly growing area of nanotechnology. Here, we synthesized cucurbit[6]uril (CB6)-stabilized Cu2O (Cu2O–CB6) and CuO (CuO–CB6) NPs via a simple reduction method. Their formation and physicochemical characteristics were confirmed using various spectroscopic techniques. Electron microscopy images revealed spherical CuO and Cu2O NPs on CB6 surface, with average particle sizes of approximately 40 and 25 nm for Cu2O–CB6 and CuO–CB6, respectively. X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed cubic and monoclinic structures for Cu2O–CB6 and CuO–CB6, respectively. Subsequently, we evaluated the antibacterial and antifungal activities of both NPs. We then assessed their anticancer efficacy using A549 human lung cancer cells via dimethyl thiazolyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. CuO–CB6 demonstrated excellent concentration-dependent anti-proliferative effects with an IC50 value of 12.35 ± 0.05 µg/mL. Moreover, CuO–CB6 exhibited superior antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anticancer activities compared to the one reported for CuO NPs. Our in vitro MTT assays, antioxidant activity, and apoptosis studies suggest the potential of these NPs as anticancer agents.