Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide, demanding novel and effective therapeutic strategies. Nanotechnology-based interventions have shown promising potential in cancer treatment. This study reports the green synthesis, characterization, and anticancer evaluation of copper oxide nanoparticles (CB-CuONPs) synthesized using Caesalpinia bonducella Linn. CB-CuONPs were synthesized via a green approach using ethyl acetate extracts of C. bonducella , along with copper sulfate and ascorbic acid as precursors. The nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Visible spectrophotometry, fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and zeta potential analysis. The anticancer activity of CB-CuONPs was assessed against the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line using the MTT assay. The characterization analyses provided key insights into the morphology, size, and crystalline structure of the CB-CuONPs. UV-Vis spectrophotometry confirmed nanoparticle formation with a distinct absorption peak at 255 nm. XRD analysis revealed the monoclinic crystalline nature of the synthesized CB-CuONPs. SEM and TEM imaging displayed nanoparticles with diverse shapes at various magnifications. ICP-OES analysis confirmed the presence of copper in the synthesized CuONPs, with a measured concentration of 179,867.99 ppm. FTIR spectroscopy identified characteristic peaks corresponding to CuO bonds (500–650 cm⁻¹) and plant-derived phytoconstituents (1400–3800 cm⁻¹). Zeta potential analysis showed particle sizes ranging from 60 to 102 nm. The cytotoxic potential of CB-CuONPs was validated by the MTT assay, which yielded an IC₅₀ value of 46.6 µg/mL, indicating significant anticancer activity. These findings underscore the substantial potential of CB-CuONPs as a promising nanotherapeutic agent in breast cancer treatment. The green synthesis approach using Caesalpinia bonducella not only ensures eco-friendly production but also imparts bioactive properties, contributing to the nanoparticles' significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells.
Balasundaram et al. (Sat,) studied this question.