In this report, copper oxide nanoparticles (TA-CuO NPs) were synthesized using cell-free extract of Trichoderma asperellum and assessed their photothermal induced anticancerous activity. The fungal mediated TA-CuO NPs was confirmed by the surface plasmon resonance at 285-295 nm. The amide (CO) and aromatic (CC) groups in secondary metabolites of the extract was found to be an encapsulating or reducing agents for TA-CuO NPs, as indicated by IR spectra. Crystalline nature by cubic face-centered structure of the TA-CuO NPs was confirmed by XRD and their size ranges from 10 to 190 nm and an average of 110 nm by particle size analyzer (PSA). The Ultra HRSEM study revealed spherical shaped TA-CuO NPs. The FETEM results were also in strong agreement with PSA and UHR SEM. The survey-scan spectrum of XPS indicated the presence of C1s (47.83%), Cu2p (16.11%), Na1s (2.2%) and O1s (33.86%). The cell death was significantly found higher in photothermal induced by near-infrared laser (TA-CuO NPs-NIR) treated than that of TA-CuO NPs treatment. The level of ROS (35.62%) was higher in the treated cells than that of the untreated control, in accordance with the nucleus damage and losses in the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). The upregulation of Bcl-2 in the untreated cells and Cas-3 in TA-CuO NPs-NIR treated cells was confirmed by western blot analysis. This work agreed with the potential biogenic TA-CuO NPs for promising in vitro photothermolysis of cancer cells, for the development of anticancer nanotherapeutics.
Keywords: Anticancer; Apoptosis; Copper oxide nanoparticles; Human lung carcinoma; Photothermal activity; Trichoderma.
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