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Antitumor effect of copper nanoparticles on human breast and colon malignancies

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Abstract

Breast and colon carcinomas are two types of common cancers which lead to cancer-related deaths. Due to their cytotoxic potential against cancer cells, recently many studies of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) have been conducted. In the current work, we aim to evaluate the cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects of CuNPs on the human breast (MCF-7) and colon (LoVo) cancer cells. CuNPs were prepared in starch-stabilizing aqueous solution by electroless deposition technique in alkaline tartrate bath using formaldehyde as the reducing agent of copper sulfate. The obtained CuNPs were characterized by SEM, TEM, and XRD to confirm the particle size, morphology, and chemical composition. Standard colorimetric MTT and LDH assays were used to estimate the cytotoxic effect of CuNPs on MCF-7 and LoVo cells. Furthermore, CuNP-treated cells undergoing apoptosis were assessed based on the expression of apoptosis-related genes using qRT-PCR. The results indicate that the mean particle size of the synthesized CuNPs was ~ 50–60 nm, and they were spherical in shape with mainly the chemical structure of the copper metallic phase. MTT assay revealed that CuNPs induced cytotoxicity in tested cells with IC50 rates of 16.4 (in MCF-7) and 21.6 μg/ml (in LoVo). Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis showed that CuNPs caused a significant increment of Bax, P53, and Caspases 9, 8, and 3 genes. Overall, the anticancer potential of prepared CuNPs were reported through apoptotic induction which highlight the potential use of CuNPs as an efficient anticancer agent.

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Acknowledgments

The authors extend their appreciation to ResearchersSupporting Project number (RSP-2020/26), King SaudUniversity, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for funding this work.

Funding

This work was funded by Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP-2020/26), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia

    Mohammed Al-zharani & Ashraf Ahmed Qurtam

  2. Chemistry Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia

    Walid Mohamed Daoush

  3. Department of Production Technology, Faculty of Technology and Education, Helwan University, Saray–El Qoupa, El Sawah Street, Cairo, 11281, Egypt

    Walid Mohamed Daoush

  4. Physics Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed Hassan Eisa

  5. Physics Department, College of Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology, 11113, Khartoum, Sudan

    Mohamed Hassan Eisa

  6. Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Nada Hamad Aljarba

  7. Department of Zoology, Science College, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Saad Alkahtani

  8. Medicinal Aromatic and Poisonous Plants Research Center, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Fahd A. Nasr

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  1. Mohammed Al-zharani
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  2. Ashraf Ahmed Qurtam
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  3. Walid Mohamed Daoush
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  4. Mohamed Hassan Eisa
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  7. Fahd A. Nasr
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Correspondence to Mohammed Al-zharani.

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Al-zharani, M., Qurtam, A.A., Daoush, W.M. et al. Antitumor effect of copper nanoparticles on human breast and colon malignancies. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 1587–1595 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09843-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09843-5

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