Antibacterial and anticancer activity of biosynthesised CuO nanoparticles

The present investigation aims for the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using Nilgirianthus ciliatus plant extract. The obtained CuO NPs were characterised by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis. Significant bacterial activity was manifested by CuO nanoparticles against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus mutans) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. The synthesised CuO NPs have good cytotoxicity against both human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and lung cancer cell line (A549) with minimum cytotoxic effect on normal L929 (fibroblast) cell lines.