Applied Chemical Engineering

Green synthesis and comparative evaluation of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles for antibacterial and anti-breast cancer applications

Asmaa A. Jawad

Department of Forensic Chemistry, Higher Institute of Forensic Science, Al-Nahrain University, 10070, Baghdad, Iraq

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ace.v8i3.5700

Keywords: antibacterial; CuO nanoparticles; cytotoxicity; IC50; green synthesis; nanomedicine; MCF-7; ZnO nanoparticles

---

Abstract

Background: The growing resistance to conventional antibacterial and anticancer treatments necessitates innovative approaches such as nanotechnology, particularly green-synthesized nanoparticles (NPs). This work synthesizes eco-friendly copper oxide (CuO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using lemon peel extract and tests their biological activities. The synthesis was confirmed through FTIR, EDX, and FESEM analyses, which revealed successful formation and biofunctionalization of the NPs. FTIR spectra identified phytochemical involvement, while EDX confirmed elemental composition. FESEM imaging showed agglomerated flake-like CuO particles and spherical ZnO particles. Antibacterial testing using the cup-plate agar method demonstrated significant inhibition zones: CuO NPs produced 14 mm and 20 mm against Bacillus subtilis and E. coli at 100 µg/mL. In comparison, ZnO NPs exhibited superior inhibition with 16 mm and 23 mm, respectively, even outperforming sulfadiazine. Concentration-dependent cytotoxicity was seen in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. At 320 ppm, CuO NPs reduced viability to 17.87%, while ZnO NPs further decreased it to 10.66%. The IC₅₀ of CuO was calculated as 30.86 µg/mL, whereas ZnO demonstrated greater potency. These findings confirm that green-synthesized ZnO NPs possess more potent antibacterial and anticancer properties than CuO. If adopted clinically, such biogenic NPs could significantly mitigate multidrug resistance and enhance therapeutic outcomes with reduced environmental impact. Future work should focus on in vivo validation, standardization, and exploring synergistic applications with existing chemotherapeutics.

---

References

[1]. Bhat, A. A., Gupta, G., Afzal, M., Thapa, R., Ali, H., Alqahtani, S. M., ... & Subramaniyan, V. (2024). Polyphenol-loaded nano-carriers for breast cancer therapy: a comprehensive review. BioNanoScience, 14(4), 4219-4237

[2]. Ifijen, I. H., Awoyemi, R. F., Faderin, E., Akobundu, U. U., Ajayi, A. S., Chukwu, J. U., ... & Ikhuoria, E. U. (2025). Protein-based nanoparticles for antimicrobial and cancer therapy: implications for public health. RSC advances, 15(19), 14966-15016. ‏

[3]. Tyasningsih, W., Ramandinianto, S. C., Ansharieta, R., Witaningrum, A. M., Permatasari, D. A., Wardhana, D. K., ... & Ugbo, E. N. (2022). Prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli isolated from raw milk in East Java, Indonesia. Veterinary World, 15(8), 2021. ‏

[4]. Jawad, A. A., Lua’i, R. M., Lua’i, R. M., Safir, N. H., Jawad, S. A., & Abbas, A. K. (2022). Synthesis methods and applications of TiO2 based nanomaterials. Al-Nahrain Journal of Science, 25(4), 1-10. ‏

[5]. Anjum, S., Ishaque, S., Fatima, H., Farooq, W., Hano, C., Abbasi, B. H., & Anjum, I. (2021). Emerging applications of nanotechnology in healthcare systems: Grand challenges and perspectives. Pharmaceuticals, 14(8), 707. ‏

[6]. Alavi, M., & Kennedy, J. F. (2021). Recent advances of fabricated and modified Ag, Cu, CuO and ZnO nanoparticles by herbal secondary metabolites, cellulose and pectin polymers for antimicrobial applications. Cellulose, 28, 3297-3310. ‏

[7]. Patel, M., Mishra, S., Verma, R., & Shikha, D. (2022). Synthesis of ZnO and CuO nanoparticles via Sol gel method and its characterization by using various technique. Discover Materials, 2(1), 1. ‏

[8]. Bengalli, R., Colantuoni, A., Perelshtein, I., Gedanken, A., Collini, M., Mantecca, P., & Fiandra, L. (2021). In vitro skin toxicity of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles: Application in the safety assessment of antimicrobial coated textiles. NanoImpact, 21, 100282. ‏

[9]. Athanasiadis, V., Chatzimitakos, T., Mantiniotou, M., Bozinou, E., & Lalas, S. I. (2024). Exploring the antioxidant properties of Citrus limon (lemon) peel ultrasound extract after the cloud point extraction method. Biomass, 4(1), 202-216. ‏

[10]. Baglari, S., Wary, R. R., Kalita, P., & Baruah, M. B. (2024). Green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles using citrus maxima peel aqueous extract. Materials Today: Proceedings, 103, 141-146. ‏

[11]. Kem, A., Ansari, M. R., Prathap, P., Jayasimhadri, M., & Peta, K. R. (2022). Eco-friendly green synthesis of stable ZnO nanoparticles using citrus limon: X-ray diffraction analysis and optical properties. Physica Scripta, 97(8), 085814.

[12]. ‏ [12] Zhang, S., Lin, L., Huang, X., Lu, Y. G., Zheng, D. L., & Feng, Y. (2022). Antimicrobial properties of metal nanoparticles and their oxide materials and their applications in oral biology. Journal of Nanomaterials, 2022(1), 2063265.‏.

[13]. Ali, Z. H., Jber, N. R., & Abbas, A. K. (2023, February). Synthesis and characterization of new 1, 3-oxazepine compounds from P-Phenylenediamine as insecticide (Aphidoidea). In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 2457, No. 1). AIP Publishing.‏.

[14]. Al-Taa’y, W., Abdul Nabi, M., Yusop, R. M., Yousif, E., Abdullah, B. M., Salimon, J., ... & Zubairi, S. I. (2014). Effect of nano ZnO on the optical properties of poly (vinyl chloride) films. International journal of polymer science, 2014(1), 697809. ‏

[15]. Vasantharaj, S., Sathiyavimal, S., Senthilkumar, P., Kalpana, V. N., Rajalakshmi, G., Alsehli, M., ... & Pugazhendhi, A. (2021). Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of water pollutants using bio-green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 9(4), 105772.‏.

[16]. Yousif, E., Majeed, A., Al-Sammarrae, K., Salih, N., Salimon, J., & Abdullah, B. (2017). Metal complexes of Schiff base: preparation, characterization and antibacterial activity. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 10, S1639-S1644. ‏

[17]. Mobarak, M. B., Hossain, M. S., Chowdhury, F., & Ahmed, S. (2022). Synthesis and characterization of CuO nanoparticles utilizing waste fish scale and exploitation of XRD peak profile analysis for approximating the structural parameters. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 15(10), 104117. ‏

[18]. Akbarizadeh, M. R., Sarani, M., & Darijani, S. (2022). Study of antibacterial performance of biosynthesized pure and Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles. Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali, 33(3), 613-621.‏.

[19]. Saleem, A. J. (2024). Effect the Nanoparticles of Fe2O3 and CuO to Increasing the Activity of Sulfadiazine Against Multidrug Resistant Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. Academia Open, 9(2), 10-21070. ‏

[20]. Fazaa, S. A. (2022). Eco-friendly synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Bacillus Subtilis, characterization and antibacterial potential against Staphylococcus aureus associated with cardiac catheterization. Iranian Journal of Catalysis, 12(2).‏

[21]. Shubha, P., Ganesh, S., & Shyamsundar, S. (2024). Anti-proliferative activity of biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles against breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 315, 128900. ‏

[22]. Sarala, E., Vinuth, M., Naik, M. M., & Reddy, Y. R. (2022). Green synthesis of nickel ferrite nanoparticles using Terminalia catappa: Structural, magnetic and anticancer studies against MCF-7 cell lines. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, 8, 100150. ‏

[23]. Risan, H. K., Al‐Azzawi, A. A., & Al-Zwainy, F. M. (2024). Statistical Analysis for Civil Engineers: Mathematical Theory and Applied Experiment Design. Elsevier. ‏

[24]. Al-Zwainy, F. M. S., Mohammed, I. A., & Raheem, S. H. (2016). Investigation and assessment of the project management methodology in Iraqi construction sector. International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, 11(4), 2494-2507. ‏