Skip to main content
Log in

Bio-inspired synthesis and characterizations of groundnut shells-mediated Cu/CuO/Cu2O nanoparticles for anticancer, antioxidant, and DNA damage activities

  • Original Paper: Nano-structured materials (particles, fibers, colloids, composites, etc.)
  • Published:
Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bio-waste material-assisted nanomaterials synthesis is a newer aspect of modern nanotechnology. It is preferred over orthodox approaches for its merits, including affordability, safety, eco-benevolentness, and biocompatibility. In this report, the green fabrication of heterogeneous Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs using groundnut shell extract and assessed for their diverse biomedical properties. Diverse spectroscopic and microscopic characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were performed to confirm the synthesis of groundnut shells extract mediated Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs. XRD data demonstrated a high degree of crystallinity of the Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs and a median diameter of about 34 nm. HRTEM and SEM images disclosed the quasi-spherical morphology of NPs. FTIR study ascertained the involvement of diverse functional groups that reduced and stabilized the Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs. Moreover, the anticancer efficacy of synthesized Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs was evaluated against breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) through an MTT assay and displayed activity at the IC50 of 42.66 μg/mL. Antioxidant properties of Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs were surveyed through the ABTS and DPPH assays. Furthermore, the agarose gel electrophoresis technique has scrutinized the DNA cleavage abilities of the as-prepared Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs. Hence, the present green approach represents a facile, greener, safe and cost-effective route for synthesizing Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs and opening new horizons for the biomedical sector.

Graphical Abstract

Bio-waste material-aided nanomaterials fabrication is a novel aspect of advanced nanotechnology. It is preferred over orthodox approaches for its merits, including simplicity, affordability, reliability, eco-merciful, and biocompatibility. In this context, the facile green synthesis of heterogeneous Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs via groundnut shell extracts and explored for their various biomedical applications. Diverse spectroscopic and microscopic characterization techniques such as XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDX, and TEM were employed to confirm the biogenic synthesis of groundnut shells extract-mediated Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs. Moreover, the antioxidant, anticancer, and DNA damage potential of the as-synthesized NPs was carefully studied. Therefore, the current green approach represents a facile, greener, biocompatible, safe, and cost-effective protocol for synthesizing Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs and opening a new arena in the domain of nanomedicine.

Highlights

  • First-time report on groundnut shell extracts-mediated synthesis of heterogeneous Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs through a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach.

  • Optical, structural, and topological properties of Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs were studied using XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDX and HRTEM techniques.

  • As-prepared Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs exhibited effective cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) using MTT assay.

  • Moreover, antioxidant and DNA cleavage studies of Cu/CuO/Cu2O NPs investigated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hansen SF et al. (2022) Nanotechnology meets circular economy. Nat Nanotechnol 17(7):682–685

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Pushparaj K et al. (2022) Nano-from nature to nurture: A comprehensive review on facets, trends, perspectives and sustainability of nanotechnology in the food sector. Energy 240:122732

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Woolley JL, MacGregor N (2022) Science, technology, and innovation policy timing and nanotechnology entrepreneurship and innovation. Plos one 17(3):e0264856

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Ghotekar S (2019) A review on plant extract mediated biogenic synthesis of CdO nanoparticles and their recent applications. Asian J Green Chem 3(2):187–200

    Google Scholar 

  5. Yang RX et al. (2022) Big data in a nano world: A review on computational, data-driven design of nanomaterials structures, properties, and synthesis. ACS Nano 16(12):19873–19891

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Malik S et al. (2022) A comprehensive review on nanobiotechnology for bioremediation of heavy metals from wastewater. J Basic Microbiol 62(3–4):361–375

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Jiang T et al. (2022) Nanobiotechnology: Applications in Chronic Wound Healing. Int J Nanomed 17:3125–3145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Pansambal S et al. (2022) Bioengineered cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles and their diverse applications: A review. Appl Nanosci 1–26

  9. Ghotekar S et al. (2023) Recent Advances in Synthesis of CeVO4 Nanoparticles and Their Potential Scaffold for Photocatalytic Applications. Topics Catalysis 66:89–103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Baig N, Kammakakam I, Falath W (2021) Nanomaterials: A review of synthesis methods, properties, recent progress, and challenges. Mater Adv 2(6):1821–1871

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Shreyash N et al. (2021) Green synthesis of nanoparticles and their biomedical applications: a review. ACS Appl Nano Mater 4(11):11428–11457

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Chinthala M et al. (2021) Synthesis and applications of nano-MgO and composites for medicine, energy, and environmental remediation: a review. Environ Chem Lett 19(6):4415–4454

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Salem SS, Fouda A (2021) Green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles and their prospective biotechnological applications: an overview. Biol Trace Elem Res 199(1):344–370

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Domingues C et al. (2022) Where is nano today and where is it headed? A review of nanomedicine and the dilemma of nanotoxicology. ACS nano 16(7):9994–10041

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kelele KG et al. (2021) Synthesis and characterizations of metal ions doped barium strontium titanate (BST) nanomaterials for photocatalytic and electrical applications: A mini-review. Int J Mater Res 112(8):665–677

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Novio F et al. (2013) Coordination polymer nanoparticles in medicine. Coord Chem Rev 257(19-20):2839–2847

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Duan H, Wang D, Li Y (2015) Green chemistry for nanoparticle synthesis. Chem Soc Rev 44(16):5778–5792

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Bisht N, Phalswal P, Khanna PK (2022) Selenium nanoparticles: A review on synthesis and biomedical applications. Mater Adv 3(3):1415–1431

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Cuong HN et al. (2022) New frontiers in the plant extract mediated biosynthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles and their potential applications: A review. Environ Res 203:111858

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Gawande MB et al. (2016) Cu and Cu-based nanoparticles: synthesis and applications in catalysis. Chem Rev 116(6):3722–3811

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Chakraborty N et al. (2022) Green synthesis of copper/copper oxide nanoparticles and their applications: a review. Green Chem Lett Rev 15(1):187–215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Mishra SR, Ahmaruzzaman M (2022) CuO and CuO-based nanocomposites: Synthesis and applications in environment and energy. Sustain Mater Technol 33:e00463

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Marzban A et al. (2022) Biogenesis of copper nanoparticles assisted with seaweed polysaccharide with antibacterial and antibiofilm properties against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 74:103499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Ghotekar S et al. (2021) Plant-based green synthesis and applications of cuprous oxide nanoparticles, In: Handbook of Greener Synthesis of Nanomaterials and Compounds, Elsevier, United Kingdom, 201–208

  25. Mao P-H et al. (2022) Single-step synthesized functionalized copper carboxylate framework meshes as hierarchical catalysts for enhanced reduction of nitrogen-containing phenolic contaminants. Catalysts 12(7):765

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Chauhan A et al. (2022) Fabrication of copper oxide nanoparticles via microwave and green approaches and their antimicrobial potential. Chem Pap 76(11):7147–7162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Dhatwalia J et al. (2023) Rubus ellipticus fruits extract-mediated cuprous oxide nanoparticles: in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, and toxicity study. Chem Pap 77:1377–1393

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Akhavan O, Ghaderi E (2011) Copper oxide nanoflakes as highly sensitive and fast response self-sterilizing biosensors. J Mater Chem 21(34):12935–12940

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Yang Q et al. (2017) Cuprous oxide nanoparticles trigger ER stress-induced apoptosis by regulating copper trafficking and overcoming resistance to sunitinib therapy in renal cancer. Biomaterials 146:72–85

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Akhavan O, Ghaderi E (2010) Cu and CuO nanoparticles immobilized by silica thin films as antibacterial materials and photocatalysts. Surf Coat Technol 205(1):219–223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Fuku X, Modibedi M, Mathe M (2020) Green synthesis of Cu/Cu2O/CuO nanostructures and the analysis of their electrochemical properties. SN Appl Sci 2(5):1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Lin L-Y et al. (2018) A highly sensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on Cu/Cu2O/CuO ternary composite hollow spheres prepared in a furnace aerosol reactor. Sens Actuators B: Chem 259:745–752

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Hajimammadov R et al. (2018) Random networks of core-shell-like Cu-Cu2O/CuO nanowires as surface plasmon resonance-enhanced sensors. Sci Rep. 8(1):1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Khan SR et al. (2020) Investigation of catalytic and fuel additive applications of copper/copper (I) oxide/copper (II) oxide (Cu/CuO/Cu2O) microspheres synthesized by hydrothermal method using sucrose as template. Mater Res Express 7(2):025036

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Abd Elkodous M et al. (2022) Facile One-pot Preparation of Cu/CuO/Cu2O Heterojunction for Photocatalytic Applications. Mater Lett 323:132606

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Zhao Y et al. (2015) Epitaxial growth of hyperbranched Cu/Cu2O/CuO core-shell nanowire heterostructures for lithium-ion batteries. Nano Res 8(8):2763–2776

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Li R et al. (2020) Halides-assisted electrochemical synthesis of Cu/Cu2O/CuO core-shell electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction. J Power Sources 457:228058

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Djamila B et al. (2022) In vitro antioxidant activities of copper mixed oxide (CuO/Cu2O) nanoparticles produced from the leaves of Phoenix dactylifera L. Biomass Conversion Biorefinery 1–14

  39. Serra A et al. (2021) Facile cost-effective fabrication of Cu@ Cu2O@ CuO–microalgae photocatalyst with enhanced visible light degradation of tetracycline. Chem Eng J 413:127477

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Sahai A et al. (2016) Cu/Cu2O/CuO nanoparticles: Novel synthesis by exploding wire technique and extensive characterization. Appl Surf Sci 390:974–983

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Li H et al. (2017) Free-standing and flexible Cu/Cu2O/CuO heterojunction net: a novel material as cost-effective and easily recycled visible-light photocatalyst. Appl Catal B: Environ 207:134–142

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Akhavan O, Tohidi H, Moshfegh A (2009) Synthesis and electrochromic study of sol–gel cuprous oxide nanoparticles accumulated on silica thin film. Thin Solid Films 517(24):6700–6706

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Collins J, Kalantari S, Post A (1982) Peanut hull flour as dietary fiber in wheat bread. J Food Sci 47(6):1899–1902

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Hill GM (2002) Peanut by-products fed to cattle. Vet Clinics: Food Anim Pract 18(2):295–315

    Google Scholar 

  45. Fang Z-F et al. (2014) Cationic surfactant-assisted microwave-NaOH pretreatment for enhancing enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentable sugar yield from peanut shells. BioResources 9(1):1290–1302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Jones G et al. (1998) Development and characterization of paper products from dried sweetpotato stems, peanut shells and soybean pods. SAE transactions 107:316–322

    Google Scholar 

  47. Batalla L, Nunez AJ, Marcovich NE (2005) Particleboards from peanut‐shell flour. J Appl Polym Sci 97(3):916–923

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Yallappa S et al. (2017) Natural biowaste of Groundnut shell derived nano carbons: Synthesis, characterization and itsin vitro antibacterial activity. Nano-Struct Nano-Objects 12:84–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Duc PA et al. (2019) Groundnut shell-a beneficial bio-waste. Biocatalysis and Agricultural. Biotechnology 20:101206

    Google Scholar 

  50. Barwant M et al. (2022) Eco-friendly synthesis and characterizations of Ag/AgO/Ag2O nanoparticles using leaf extracts of Solanum elaeagnifolium for antioxidant, anticancer, and DNA cleavage activities. Chem Pap 76(7):4309–4321

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Mahmood RI et al. (2022) Biosynthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles mediated Annona muricata as cytotoxic and apoptosis inducer factor in breast cancer cell lines. Sci Rep 12(1):1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Yugandhar P et al. (2017) Bioinspired green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles from Syzygium alternifolium (Wt.) Walp: characterization and evaluation of its synergistic antimicrobial and anticancer activity. Appl Nanosci 7(7):417–427

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Dubale AA et al. (2015) Heterostructured Cu2O/CuO decorated with nickel as a highly efficient photocathode for photoelectrochemical water reduction. J Mater Chem A 3(23):12482–12499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Holzwarth U, Gibson N (2011) The Scherrer equation versus the’Debye-Scherrer equation’. Nat Nanotechnol 6(9):534–534

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Bayuo J, Pelig-Ba KB, Abukari MA (2019) Optimization of adsorption parameters for effective removal of lead (II) from aqueous solution. Phys Chem Indian J 14(1):1–25

    Google Scholar 

  56. Sim SF et al. (2012) Computer-assisted analysis of fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra for characterization of various treated and untreated agriculture biomass. BioResources 7(4):5367–5380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Ethiraj AS, Kang DJ (2012) Synthesis and characterization of CuO nanowires by a simple wet chemical method. Nanoscale Res Lett 7(1):1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Minh TT et al. (2019) Synthesis of porous octahedral ZnO/CuO composites from Zn/Cu-based MOF-199 and their applications in visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of dyes. J Nanomater 2019:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Zadeh FA et al. (2022) Cytotoxicity evaluation of environmentally friendly synthesis Copper/Zinc bimetallic nanoparticles on MCF-7 cancer cells. Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali 33(2):441–447

    Google Scholar 

  60. Rajagopal G et al. (2021) Mixed phytochemicals mediated synthesis of copper nanoparticles for anticancer and larvicidal applications. Heliyon 7(6):e07360

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Biresaw SS, Taneja P (2022) Copper nanoparticles green synthesis and characterization as anticancer potential in breast cancer cells (MCF7) derived from Prunus nepalensis phytochemicals. Mater Today: Proc 49:3501–3509

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Cao Y et al. (2021) Green synthesis of bimetallic ZnO–CuO nanoparticles and their cytotoxicity properties. Sci Rep 11(1):1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Jinu U et al. (2017) Green engineered biomolecule-capped silver and copper nanohybrids using Prosopis cineraria leaf extract: enhanced antibacterial activity against microbial pathogens of public health relevance and cytotoxicity on human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Microb Pathogenesis 105:86–95

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Chinnaraj S et al. (2022) Silver nanoparticle production mediated by Goniothalamus wightii extract: characterization and their potential biological applications. Particulate Sci Technol 1–15

  65. Azeeze MSTA et al. (2021) Biologically Synthesized Plant-Derived Nanomedicines and Their In vitro–In vivo Toxicity Studies in Various Cancer Therapeutics: Regulatory Perspectives. Cancer Nanotheranostics 2:217–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Akhavan O, Ghaderi E (2010) Toxicity of graphene and graphene oxide nanowalls against bacteria. ACS Nano 4(10):5731–5736

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Dutta T et al. (2015) ROS generation by reduced graphene oxide (rGO) induced by visible light showing antibacterial activity: comparison with graphene oxide (GO). RSC Adv 5(98):80192–80195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Lakshmi Prasanna V, Vijayaraghavan R (2015) Insight into the mechanism of antibacterial activity of ZnO: surface defects mediated reactive oxygen species even in the dark. Langmuir 31(33):9155–9162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Hashemi E et al. (2014) Cyto and genotoxicities of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide sheets on spermatozoa. RSC Adv 4(52):27213–27223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Liu S et al. (2011) Antibacterial activity of graphite, graphite oxide, graphene oxide, and reduced graphene oxide: membrane and oxidative stress. ACS nano 5(9):6971–6980

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Akhavan O, Ghaderi E, Akhavan A (2012) Size-dependent genotoxicity of graphene nanoplatelets in human stem cells. Biomaterials 33(32):8017–8025

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Wang Y-W et al. (2014) Superior antibacterial activity of zinc oxide/graphene oxide composites originating from high zinc concentration localized around bacteria. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 6(4):2791–2798

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Jannesari M et al. (2020) Graphene/CuO2 nanoshuttles with controllable release of oxygen nanobubbles promoting interruption of bacterial respiration. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 12(32):35813–35825

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Akhavan O et al. (2016) Influence of heavy nanocrystals on spermatozoa and fertility of mammals. Mater Sci Eng: C 69:52–59

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Flieger J et al. (2021) Antioxidants: Classification, natural sources, activity/capacity measurements, and usefulness for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Materials 14(15):4135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Gulbagca F et al. (2021) Green synthesis of palladium nanoparticles: Preparation, characterization, and investigation of antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and DNA cleavage activities. Appl Organomet Chem 35(8):e6272

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Jadhav MS et al. (2018) Green biosynthesis of CuO & Ag–CuO nanoparticles from Malus domestica leaf extract and evaluation of antibacterial, antioxidant and DNA cleavage activities. N. J Chem 42(1):204–213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Abbas Rahdar or Suresh Ghotekar.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Research involving humans and animals statement

No humans/animals were used for the experiments in this study.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shinde, S., Parjane, S., Turakane, H. et al. Bio-inspired synthesis and characterizations of groundnut shells-mediated Cu/CuO/Cu2O nanoparticles for anticancer, antioxidant, and DNA damage activities. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 106, 737–747 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06109-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06109-7

Keywords

Navigation