Dose-dependent effects of CuO nanoparticles on germination and early seedling growth in Prunus avium

Where does the toxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles come from: The nanoparticles, the ions, or a combination of both?

ABSTRACTOrganic dyes are extensively used in numerous sectors, for example, textiles, leather, food, pharmaceuticals, paint, and plastic. Industries have contributed directly to significant environmental contamination, particularly in the form of water pollution. The present work comprises a comparative study of the photocatalytic degradation of malachite green (MG) dye by using metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs) such as copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), and iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) coated with 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIM][PF6] ionic liquid (IL) and bare MONPs. The above‐mentioned nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by using the co‐precipitation method. The physico‐chemical characteristics of the bare MONPs and IL‐coated MONPs were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–visible absorption spectroscopy (UV–Vis), photoluminescence (PL), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Average crystallite sizes of IL‐coated CuO NPs (13.9 nm), ZnO NPs (28.02 nm), and Fe3O4 NPs (4.16 nm) were found from an XRD study. The band gap values of [BMIM][PF6] coated CuO, ZnO, and Fe3O4 NPs were computed to be 1.85, 2.06, and 1.56 eV, respectively. The photocatalytic efficacy of synthesized NPs was examined on MG dye during a 60‐min period. The photocatalytic degradation of MG dye was more effective when using MONPs with an IL coating compared with MONPs without an IL coating.

Eco synthesis, spectral and antimicrobial studies of copper oxide (cuo) nanoparticles

In this study, adsorption process performance was assessed using metal oxide nano particles for wastewater treatment containing heavy metals in a laboratory scale reactor. Copper oxide nano-particles were prepared and fully characterized considering their adsorption properties (surface area and pore size distribution) as well as their chemical structure and morphology. The adsorption of heavy metals, including Fe3+ and Cd2+ was studied in batch experiments. Various physico-chemical parameters such as pH, initial metal ion concentration, and adsorbent dosage level and equilibrium contact time were studied. The adsorption of Cd2+ and Fe3+ ions increased with an increase in pH. The optimum solution pH for adsorption of both metals from aqueous solutions was 6. Adsorption was rapid and occurred within the first 20 min for both metals within different solution concentrations (250, 100, 50 and 25 mg/L). The kinetic of Cd2+ and Fe3+ adsorption onto copper oxide nano particles was well fitted by the pseudosecond- order rate equation. The equilibrium adsorption data for Cd2+ was best fitted by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model, but for Fe3+ adsorption, it was found that Freundlich adsorption isotherm model is the best model to describe it. The selectivity order of the adsorbent is Fe3+>Cd2+. From these results, it can be concluded that the CuO nano particles is a promising adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions.

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO) were electro-generated and electro-deposited simultaneously on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) using cyclic voltammetry at a reduction potential of − 1.4 V to − 0.2 V in 0.1 M NaOH and 1.67 mM CuCl solution. The electrodeposited CuO nanoparticles show an excellent electro-catalytic activity towards the detection of potassium ferricyanide. The scan rate, concentration of the analyte and pH of the solution were varied accordingly to study the stability of the copper oxide deposited glassy carbon electrode (CuO/GCE). The CuO/GCE electrode shows amazing stability, charge transfer and reproducibility even at low concentration of the analyte. The cyclic voltammetry is proved to be one of the convenient methods to reduce the precursors into metal oxide nanoparticles just by applying suitable current. The main advantage of this method is uniform deposition of CuO nanoparticles on GCE and thus increases the number of active sites, surface area and electro-catalytic properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the morphology of the electro-generated CuO nanoparticles. The zeta-potential analysis was carried out to study the surface potential of charged CuO nanoparticles and it was found to be + 58.29 mV. Further, CuO nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction to study the phases. UV–visible spectroscopy depicts the absorption peak at 288 nm confirms the formation of CuO nanoparticles. This absorption is attributed by the electronic transition from valence band to conduction band due to the quantum size of the particles.

Camellia Sinensis assisted green synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles: Investigation of structural, vibrational, morphological and thermal analysis

Research on green production methods for metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) is growing, with the objective to overcome the potential hazards of these chemicals for a safer environment. In this study, facile, ecofriendly synthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles was successfully achieved using aqueous extract of Pterospermum acerifolium leaves. P. acerifolium-fabricated CuO nanoparticles were further characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Plant-mediated CuO nanoparticles were found to be oval shaped and well dispersed in suspension. XPS confirmed the elemental composition of P. acerifolium-mediated copper nanoparticles as comprised purely of copper and oxygen. DLS measurements and ion release profile showed that P. acerifolium-mediated copper nanoparticles were more stable than the engineered CuO NPs. Copper oxide nanoparticles are used in many applications; therefore, their potential toxicity cannot be ignored. A comparative study was performed to investigate the bio-toxic impacts of plant-synthesized and engineered CuO nanoparticles on water flea Daphnia. Experiments were conducted to investigate the 48-h acute toxicity of engineered CuO NPs and plant-synthesized nanoparticles. Lower EC50 value 0.102 ± 0.019 mg/L was observed for engineered CuO NPs, while 0.69 ± 0.226 mg/L was observed for plant-synthesized CuO NPs. Additionally, ion release from CuO nanoparticles and 48-h accumulation of these nano CuOs in daphnids were also calculated. Our findings thus suggest that the contribution of released ions from nanoparticles and particles/ions accumulation in Daphnia needs to be interpreted with care.

The increasing emergence of bacterial resistance against antibiotics or antibacterial drugs has challenged the development of antibacterial agents like nanoparticles which have received increased attention due to their antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria. In this investigation, zinc oxide, copper oxide, and silver (ZnO, CuO, and Ag) nanoparticles were chemically synthesized by sol-gel, wet chemical precipitation, and chemical reduction procedures, respectively. Characterization of nanoparticles was performed using UV-Visible and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Antibacterial activity of nanoparticles was analyzed against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi. UV-Visible spectroscopy of ZnO, CuO, and Ag nanoparticles showed peaks at 375, 225, and 400 nm, respectively, and indicated optical properties of the nanoparticles, thereby confirming their formation. FTIR analysis showed presence of Zn-O and Cu-O bonds in ZnO and CuO nanoparticles, respectively, and various functional groups in Ag NPs. Antibacterial studies conducted against S. aureus and S. typhi reflected no antibacterial activity by ZnO and CuO nanoparticles individually, while Ag NPs showed good antibacterial effects against both pathogenic bacteria. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin impregnated with Ag NPs against S. aureus showed a synergistic effect.

Fungicidal synergistic effect of biogenically synthesized zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles against Alternaria citri causing citrus black rot disease

Recently, nanoparticles as adsorbents have received great attention due to their notable properties. In this regard, the acrylic acid adsorption from aqueous medium was examined by utilizing copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles. In this research, initially, CuO nanoparticles were synthesized using a simple precipitation technique. CuO nanoparticles were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyzes. CuO nanoparticles synthesized were in nano scale size ranged between 140 and 180 nm. FTIR analysis also confirmed the functional groups of CuO nanoparticles. Lastly, the effects of contact time (30–240 min), concentration of acrylic acid (2–10% w/w), temperature (25–55 °C), and CuO nanoparticle dosage (0.05–0.25 g) on the adsorption of acrylic acid with CuO nanoparticles were examined. The optimum adsorption conditions were obtained as the contact time of 180 min, the concentration of acrylic acid of 10% (w/w), nanoparticle dosage of 0.05 g, and temperature of 25 °C. At these conditions, the maximum adsorption capacity of CuO nanoparticles for acrylic acid was found as 202.67 mg g−1. This result confirmed that the synthesized CuO nanoparticles exhibited good adsorption performance towards to acrylic acid.

Introduction. The development of advanced nanomaterials is crucial for various technological applications, particularly in biomedical and catalytic fields. Among metal oxide nanoparticles, copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) have garnered significant attention due to their intrinsic bioactivity, including antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The physicochemical characteristics of CuO NPs are highly dependent on their synthesis parameters, requiring precise control over particle size, morphology, and surface properties. This study aims to optimize the synthesis of CuO NPs using experimental design methodologies to establish a mathematical model correlating synthesis parameters with nanoparticle characteristics. Materials and Methods. CuO NPs were synthesized using precipitation and coprecipitation methods, with Cu(NO3)2 and copper chloride (CuCl2) as precursors, and (NaOH) as a precipitating agent. The experimental design considered three key parameters: synthesis method, calcination temperature (250–450°C), and maturation time (24–48 hours). The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for functional group analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for morphological assessment, and laser granulometry for particle size distribution. A full factorial (2³) experimental design was employed to evaluate the influence of synthesis parameters on nanoparticle size and establish a predictive mathematical model. Results and Discussion. The synthesized CuO NPs exhibited fine black powders with characteristic Cu-O stretching vibrations (400–800 cm⁻¹) in FTIR spectra, confirming their successful formation. SEM analysis revealed spherical and tetrahedral morphologies, with particle sizes ranging between 20 and 60 nm. Factorial analysis identified the synthesis method and calcination temperature as the most influential parameters affecting particle size, while maturation time had a negligible impact. The factorial model equation accurately predicted particle size variations, with the experimental results showing strong agreement with the predicted values (mean deviation < 5.5%). The combination of precipitation synthesis and a calcination temperature of 450°C yielded the smallest CuO NPs, demonstrating an optimized approach for their production. Conclusion. This study highlights the critical role of synthesis parameters in tailoring CuO NP properties. The factorial experimental design effectively optimized the synthesis process, providing a reliable mathematical model for predicting nanoparticle size. These findings contribute to the advancement of CuO NPs for biomedical and industrial applications, with precipitation synthesis at high calcination temperatures emerging as the most effective strategy for producing smaller, well-defined nanoparticles.

Increasing use of nanomaterials is resulting in their release into the environment, making necessary to determine the toxicity of these materials. With this aim, the effects of CuO, ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) on zebrafish development were assessed in comparison with the effects caused by the ionic forms (for copper and zinc), bulk counterparts and the stabilizer used for rutile TiO2 NPs. None of the NPs caused significant embryo mortality. CuO NPs were the most toxic affecting hatching and increasing malformation prevalence (≥1 mg Cu/L), followed by ZnO NPs that affected hatching at ≥5 mg Zn/L and stabilized TiO2 NPs that caused mortality and decreased hatching at 100 mg Ti/L. Exposure to the stabilizer alone provoked the same effect. Thus, toxicity of the TiO2 NP suspension can be linked to the surfactant. For all the endpoints, the greatest effects were exerted by the ionic forms, followed by the NPs and finally by the bulk compounds. By autometallography, metal-bearing deposits were observed in embryos exposed to CuO and ZnO NPs, being more abundant in the case of embryos exposed to CuO NPs. The largest and most abundant metal-bearing deposits were detected in embryos exposed to ionic copper. In conclusion, metal oxide NPs affected zebrafish development altering hatching and increasing the prevalence of malformations. Thus, the use and release of metal oxide NPs to the environment may pose a risk to aquatic organisms as a result of the toxicity caused by NPs themselves or by the additives used in their production.

Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles are of incredible interest because of its efficacious applications including electronic devices, optoelectronic devices, such as microelectromechanical frameworks, field effect transistors, electrochemical cells, gas sensors, magnetic storage media, sun-powered cells, field emitters and nanodevices (for catalysis and medical applications). Examination by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) revealed that CuO nanoparticles depicted as wire-like nature with an average size of 27 nm. The results of the particle size analyzer showed the hydrodynamic diameter of chemically syntheized CuO nanoparticles was 82.24 nm with polydisperisty index (PDI) of 0.426. The zeta potential of prepared CuO nanoparticles was -4.69 mV. After 24 h of incubation, CuO nanoparticles produced deformation in the erythrocytes, the deformation enhanced at the most elevated concentration of CuO nanoparticles (400 ppm) suspended phosphate buffer saline (PBS)/citrate; erythrocytes influence was time and dose-dependent. The results of the toxicity study shows that the red blood cell count is substantially reduced after 24 h of incubation and progressively transparnent with a concentration of 400 ppm CuO nanoparticles, when compared with negative control and positive control samples. The prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) test cannot be detected, which means that CuO nanoparticles appear as potent inhibitors anti-partial thromboplastin time (APTT) agents by retarding clotting time in PT and PTT test. After 24-h incubation with CuO nanoparticles, there was a substantial decrease in the platelets (PLT) count in blood sample relative to negative control and positive control samples. The exposure to CuO nanoparticles should be minimized. Key words: CuO nanoparticles, toxicity, human blood, prothrombin time.

Heavy metal removal from waste water is essential to solve the global water crises. Transition metal oxide nanoparticles are promising candidates for these applications. Herein, Copper oxide and Tin oxide nanoparticles have been prepared via Facile and economic perception method starting from commercial precursors. The obtained nanoparticles were in flack-like shape and spherical shape for Copper oxide and Tin oxide nanoparticles, respectively. All prepared nanoparticles are in crystalline phases, where the prepared Copper oxide and Tin oxide nanoparticles were in monoclinic and tetragonal crystalline phases, respectively. The crystal size of Copper oxide and Tin oxide nanoparticles were 12 nm and 13 nm respectively. Cd and Pb ions were removed from wastewater by the obtained Copper oxide and Tin oxide nanoparticles. The adsorption processes were studied under various parameters, such as; contact time and pH values. The highest removal uptake was about ~99% of Pb ions were recorded for Copper oxide nanoparticles. This uptake process carried out after 30 min in a neutral medium (pH 7). While, Tin oxide nanoparticles removed about ~94% at the same conditions. On the other hand, Copper oxide nanoparticles removed about ~ 57% from Cd ions. This uptake process carried out after 30 min in a partially acidic medium (pH 6). While, Tin oxide nanoparticles removed about ~54% at the same conditions. Finally, it is highly recommended to use Copper oxide and Tin oxide nanoparticles as promising adsorbents for heavy metal removal applications.

Chemotherapy is a key element in cancer treatment. The first drugs to be clinically used for this purpose were platinum(II) complexes and even today they are highly effective in the treatment of the disease. However, side effects, resulting from their use, limit their clinical usefulness. Furthermore, if administered intravenously into the circulation, platinum(II)-based anticancer medications may cause adverse effects due to interactions with molecules found in human bodies, thus preventing them to reach the final target. Stomach secretions can also destroy them. As a result, their absorption might be restricted, rendering oral delivery ineffective. Over the years, several methodologies were developed to overcome the limits associated with the use of the platinum(II) drugs, including their targeted delivery. In this context, our study proposes copper(II) oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPS) as a promising and excellent carrier of platinum(II)-based anticancer drugs. In this work, we examined the loading efficiency of cisplatin, oxaliplatin and nedaplatin on the surface of CuO nanoparticles by using experimental techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, the BET method, and XRD, and theoretical ones based on DFT calculations under periodic boundary conditions (PBC). UV-vis spectroscopy determined that cisplatin had the highest entrapment efficiency and loading capacity compared to the other drugs, with 52% entrapment efficacy and an adsorption capacity of 949 mg g-1, indicating a stronger binding with CuO nanoparticles. The experimental results are consistent with DFT simulations indicating that Pt(II)-drugs exhibit favorable adsorption on CuO (111) surfaces, particularly when the Pt(II)-drug is cisplatin. The most stable configurations indicate that cisplatin, nedaplatin, and oxaliplatin prefer to coordinate with the surface tri-coordinated Cu. However, cisplatin has the most intense contact with the copper oxide surface, with an adsorption energy (Eads) of -3.0 eV. Both experimental and theoretical results highlight that CuO nanoparticles are excellent Pt(II) anticancer drug carriers, especially in the case of cisplatin, which undergoes strong interactions with the support, necessary for the delivery phase, and easy desorption, important in the antitumor action phase of the drug.