Das Gupta Rahul, Banerjee Subhrajyoti, Basak Ashim Kumar
Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Genetic Engineering, 30, Thakurhat Road, Kolkata, 700128, West Bengal, India.
Center of Healthcare Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur Howrah, 711 103, West Bengal, India.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2025 Sep 8;778:152318. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2025.152318. Epub 2025 Jul 12.
Copper nanoparticles have garnered significant attention due to their diverse applications across various fields. Green synthesis of nanoparticles offers a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to traditional methods, supporting the global shift towards greener practices in nanotechnology. This study presents the first green synthesis of copper nanoparticles using an aqueous leaf extract from Cucurbita maxima, a globally available, edible, and inexpensive plant. Nanoparticles formation was indicated by a colour change from brown to green, further confirmed by an absorption peak at 320 nm in UV-visible spectrophotometric analysis. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed nanoparticle sizes ranging from 50 to 60 nm. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis identified peaks at 3380 cm, 1640 cm, 1240 cm, and 680 cm, indicating functional groups responsible for Cu reduction. Zeta potential analysis confirmed the nanoparticles were negatively charged and stable due to electrostatic repulsions. Antibacterial studies showed a concentration-dependent response, with 100 μg/mL CuNPs yielded zones of 9.0 ± 1.0 mm (E. coli) and 7.5 ± 1.0 mm (S. aureus); at 200 μg/mL, inhibition increased to 17.0 ± 2.0 mm and 15.6 ± 2.07 mm, respectively. In vitro anticancer studies demonstrated that copper nanoparticles exhibited significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells, with minimal impact on non-tumorigenic breast epithelial cells. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis revealed strong binding interactions of copper nanoparticles with epidermal and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, suggesting interference with downstream signalling and cancer progression. This research focuses on the green synthesis of copper nanoparticles using Cucurbita maxima, showcasing their significant antimicrobial and anti-cancerous activity with strong biomedical potential.
铜纳米颗粒因其在各个领域的多样应用而备受关注。纳米颗粒的绿色合成提供了一种可持续、经济高效的传统方法替代方案，支持纳米技术向更绿色实践的全球转变。本研究首次使用来自南瓜（一种全球可得、可食用且价格低廉的植物）的水叶提取物进行铜纳米颗粒的绿色合成。纳米颗粒的形成通过颜色从棕色变为绿色来指示，在紫外可见分光光度分析中320nm处的吸收峰进一步证实了这一点。场发射扫描电子显微镜显示纳米颗粒尺寸在50至60nm之间。傅里叶变换红外光谱分析确定了在3380cm、1640cm、1240cm和680cm处的峰，表明了负责铜还原的官能团。zeta电位分析证实纳米颗粒由于静电排斥而带负电荷且稳定。抗菌研究显示出浓度依赖性反应，100μg/mL的铜纳米颗粒对大肠杆菌产生9.0±1.0mm的抑菌圈，对金黄色葡萄球菌产生7.5±1.0mm的抑菌圈；在200μg/mL时，抑制作用分别增加到17.0±2.0mm和15.6±2.07mm。体外抗癌研究表明，铜纳米颗粒对MCF-7和MDA-MB-468乳腺癌细胞表现出显著的细胞毒性，对非致瘤性乳腺上皮细胞影响最小。此外，分子对接分析揭示了铜纳米颗粒与表皮生长因子和血管内皮生长因子受体之间有强结合相互作用，表明对下游信号传导和癌症进展有干扰。本研究聚焦于使用南瓜进行铜纳米颗粒的绿色合成，展示了其显著的抗菌和抗癌活性以及强大的生物医学潜力。
