Copper Oxide Nanorods: Potential Agents against Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the second most prevalent type of cancer worldwide and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women. Despite substantial advancements in scientific research, cancer continues to pose a major challenge due to its high global incidence. While numerous nontargeted therapies have been developed, nanotechnology-based platforms are emerging as a promising future for cancer treatment. In this context, we investigated the in vitro antitumor activity of citrate-coated copper oxide nanorods (CuO-nr, aspect ratio ∼3) against breast cancer cells. The CuO-nr colloids demonstrated stability for over 120 days under ambient conditions, with an average hydrodynamic diameter of 107.1 ± 0.67 nm and a zeta potential of -23.8 ± 1.87 mV. Cell viability assays showed that CuO-nr were minimally harmful to nontumor fibroblast cells but highly cytotoxic to MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Flow cytometry analysis suggested that early apoptosis may be the primary mechanism of cell death induced by these nanoparticles. Furthermore, significant alterations in cell morphology were observed through scanning electron microscopy. These findings indicate that citrate-coated CuO-nr possess effective antitumor activity and hold promise as potential agents for targeted cancer therapy.