Green-synthesized copper nanoparticles: A promising molecule for wound healing with antibacterial and angiogenic activities

Wound healing is an active process with intricate and highly programmed phases and any improper occurrence of this sequence will lead to delayed or improper wound healing.Hence, the bioprospecting of potential molecules alone or in combination with antibacterial and angiogenesis activity is a prerequisite for better therapeutic wound healing activity.With this background, the present study was conducted using copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) green synthesized using Calendula officinalis L. flowers.The CuNPs were characterized using UV-Vis Spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, EDAX, FTIR and XRD.The UV-Vis analysis revealed the characteristic peak at 342 nm.SEM and TEM analysis showed irregular and elliptical-shaped nanoparticles with mean sizes of 79.30 nm and 41.91 nm, respectively.The functional groups present in C. officinalis extract were confirmed using FTIR and copper presence was confirmed using EDAX and the crystallinity was identified using XRD.The antibacterial activity of CuNPs was assessed against E. coli and S. aureus.The results revealed a better zone of inhibition of 16.61 ± 0.50 mm for E. coli and 24.33 ± 0.64 mm for S. aureus which was compared with ceftriaxone-sulbactam (24.18 ± 0.21 mm) and enrofloxacin (24.10 ± 0.20 mm), respectively.Further, the angiogenesis activity of CuNPs was assessed through chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay and the findings showed the CuNPs produced 32.00 ± 0.58 new blood vessels whereas, the control group produced 10.83 ± 0.48 new blood vessels.Hence, it was concluded that the detection of significant antibacterial and angiogenic activities of green synthesized CuNPs might indicate their use as a potential wound healing agent.