Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of antimicrobial, antioxidant & anticancer activities of copper doped zinc oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

The present work reveals the influence of copper (Cu) doping in band gap energy level as well as selective cytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles against human breast cancer cells (MCF7), human cervical carcinoma (HeLa), and one normal (Vero) cell line. Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles (Cu-ZnO NPs) were synthesized and validated by UV-Vis, FT-IR, XRD, SEM and EDAX. Cu-doping diminished the band gap energy of ZnO NPs from 3.54 eV to 3.29 eV. Antimicrobial activity has been evaluated against three bacterial and fungal strains. Antioxidant activity was examined using a DPPH free radical, ABTS+ radicals, hydroxyl radicals and nitric oxide scavenging assay. Cu-ZnO NPs showed anticancer activity with IC50 value of 219.56 μg/mL against MCF7 and 137.27 μg/mL against HeLa cell lines. The doping of Cu with ZnO improved the selective cytotoxicity of ZnO NPs towards MCF7 and HeLa cells without affecting the normal cells.