Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Green Chemistry
• Biomedical Applications

Background:

• Green synthesis of copper nanoparticles offers a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach.
• Emilia sonchifolia leaf extract serves as a natural reducing and capping agent.
• Copper nanoparticles are being explored for diverse biological and catalytic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize copper nanoparticles using Emilia sonchifolia leaf extract.
• To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo biological activities of the synthesized copper nanoparticles.
• To assess the photocatalytic potential of the copper nanoparticles for organic dye degradation.

Main Methods:

• Green synthesis of copper nanoparticles utilizing Emilia sonchifolia leaf extract.
• In vitro studies: Cytotoxicity (HaCaT, MCF-7 cells), anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial assays.
• In vivo studies: Toxicity evaluation in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos.
• Photocatalysis experiments using methylene blue dye.
• Characterization using SEM-EDX, FTIR, XRD, TGA, and UV-vis spectroscopy.

Main Results:

• Copper nanoparticles exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against human keratinocyte (HaCaT) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells.
• The synthesized nanoparticles demonstrated significant anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities.
• Toxicity tests on zebrafish embryos showed a remarkably low harmful effect.
• The copper nanoparticles effectively degraded methylene blue dye in photocatalysis experiments.

Conclusions:

• Green synthesized copper nanoparticles are safe for in vivo applications, as evidenced by low zebrafish embryo toxicity.
• These nanoparticles possess significant therapeutic potential for anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial applications.
• The synthesized copper nanoparticles are effective photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants like methylene blue.