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Anticancer potential of Viola cornuta-derived green-synthesized CuO nanoparticles via ROS-induced apoptosis in breast

Maryam Fekri Soufiabadi1, Mahsa Ziasistani1, Hannaneh Bazgir1

  • 1Pathology and Stem Cell Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.

Cytotechnology
|July 26, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Green-synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) show promise in targeting breast cancer cells. These nanoparticles effectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells while sparing normal cells, offering a potential new therapeutic avenue.

Area of Science:

  • Nanotechnology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Breast cancer poses a significant global health challenge, with current treatments often hampered by drug resistance.
  • Novel therapeutic strategies are crucial to overcome treatment limitations and improve patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the in vitro apoptotic effects of green-synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) on human breast cancer cells (MCF7).
  • To compare the efficacy and selectivity of CuO-NPs against normal epithelial cells (MCF10A).

Main Methods:

  • Green synthesis of CuO-NPs using Viola corneta leaf extract.
  • Characterization of CuO-NPs using XRD, FTIR, and SEM.
  • In vitro assays including cell viability, ROS production, Annexin V/PI staining, cell cycle analysis, and gene expression profiling.

Main Results:

  • CuO-NPs demonstrated selective toxicity, with lower IC50 values for MCF7 cells (35.4 µg/mL) compared to MCF10A cells (85 µg/mL).
  • Treatment with CuO-NPs significantly increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and induced apoptosis in MCF7 cells.
  • Flow cytometry revealed an increase in the SubG1 phase, indicating cell cycle arrest, and real-time PCR showed altered expression of apoptosis-related genes.

Conclusions:

  • Green-synthesized CuO-NPs effectively induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells.
  • CuO-NPs exhibit selective cytotoxicity, targeting cancer cells while minimizing damage to normal cells.
  • These findings suggest CuO-NPs as a potential therapeutic agent for breast cancer treatment.
Keywords:
ApoptosisBreast cancerMCF10MCF7copper oxide Nanoparticlein vitro

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