Green synthesis of bimetallic ZnO-CuO nanoparticles and their cytotoxicity properties

Sci Rep. 2021 Dec 6;11(1):23479. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-02937-1.

Abstract

In this study, a simple and green strategy was reported to prepare bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) by the combination of zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide (CuO) using Sambucus nigra L. extract. The physicochemical properties of these NPs such as crystal structure, size, and morphology were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results suggested that these NPs contained polygonal ZnO NPs with hexagonal phase and spherical CuO NPs with monoclinic phase. The anticancer activity of the prepared bimetallic NPs was evaluated against lung and human melanoma cell lines based on MTT assay. As a result, the bimetallic ZnO/CuO NPs exhibited high toxicity on melanoma cancer cells while their toxicity on lung cancer cells was low.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Copper / pharmacology*
  • Cytotoxins / chemistry
  • Cytotoxins / pharmacology*
  • Green Chemistry Technology / methods
  • Humans
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / methods
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Sambucus nigra / chemistry
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / methods
  • X-Ray Diffraction / methods
  • Zinc Oxide / chemistry*
  • Zinc Oxide / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Cytotoxins
  • Plant Extracts
  • Copper
  • Zinc Oxide
  • cuprous oxide