One-pot preparation of pectin encapsulated Cu2O nanoparticles under ultrasound condition: Investigation of its catalytic, cytotoxicity, antioxidant, and anti-colorectal cancer properties

Abstract

• The nanocomposite exhibited excellent cytotoxicity against colorectal carcinoma (CL40, SW1417, and CW2) cell lines. • IC 50 values of the nanocomposite were found at 60, 54 and 53 µg/mL against CL40, SW1417, and CW2 cell lines respectively. • Structural features of the material were assessed over several advanced techniques like FT-IR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, EDX and XRD. A mild approach for synthesis of Cu 2 O nanoparticles by using pectin were described through a simple and ‘green’ way under ultrasonic conditions. The polar functional groups on the pectin (OH) facilitate the capping and stabilization of Cu 2 O nanoparticles. Structural features of the Cu 2 O NPs/pectin were assessed over several advanced techniques like UV–Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) elemental mapping, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) analysis. It was catalytically explored in reducing an organic dye (Methylene blue-MB) in the presence of NaBH 4 at mild conditions. The Cu 2 O NPs/pectin was recycled 9 times keeping consistency in its reactivity. IC 50 values of the nanocomposite were found at 60, 54 and 53 µg/mL against CL40, SW1417, and CW2 cell lines respectively and accordingly, CW2 afforded the best carcinoma activity. The nanocomposite exhibited excellent cytotoxicity against colorectal carcinoma (CL40, SW1417, and CW2) cell lines without affecting the normal (HUVEC) cell line.