Synthesis of Cu4O3 nanoparticles using pumpkin seed extract: Optimization, antimicrobial, and cytotoxicity studies
In pursuit of sustainable nanomaterials, this study presents a green synthesis approach for producing copper oxide (Cu4O3) nanoparticles (NPs) using pumpkin seed extract, a plant-based resource rich in bioactive compounds. Unlike conventional chemical methods, this eco-friendly route enables rapid,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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De Gruyter
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Nanotechnology Reviews |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1515/ntrev-2025-0203 |
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| author | Khan Azhar U. Khan Azmat Ali Malik Nazia Her Jun Gupta Mona Panda Subhranshu Imtiyaz Khalid Alam Rizvi Mohammed Moshahid Mushtaque Mohammed Bansod Sudhakar M. Mohammad Masita Kim Min Pyo Kyungsoo Alam Mahboob |
| author_facet | Khan Azhar U. Khan Azmat Ali Malik Nazia Her Jun Gupta Mona Panda Subhranshu Imtiyaz Khalid Alam Rizvi Mohammed Moshahid Mushtaque Mohammed Bansod Sudhakar M. Mohammad Masita Kim Min Pyo Kyungsoo Alam Mahboob |
| author_sort | Khan Azhar U. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In pursuit of sustainable nanomaterials, this study presents a green synthesis approach for producing copper oxide (Cu4O3) nanoparticles (NPs) using pumpkin seed extract, a plant-based resource rich in bioactive compounds. Unlike conventional chemical methods, this eco-friendly route enables rapid, cost-effective NP production with minimal environmental impact. Notably, pumpkin seed extract serves a dual function as both a reducing and stabilizing agent during NP formation. The synthesized Cu4O3 NPs were comprehensively characterized using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and UV–visible spectrophotometry. The NPs displayed sizes ranging from 8.92 to 55.84 nm, and the UV–Vis spectrum exhibited a characteristic peak at 332 nm, confirming Cu4O3 formation. A maximum predicted yield of 89.87% was achieved under optimized conditions (7.0 mM CuSO4, 16.26 mL pumpkin seed extract, and 105.71°C), as determined using a Box–Behnken design. Furthermore, the biogenic Cu4O3 NPs demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, with an inhibition zone diameter of 2.8 cm at a concentration of 4 ppm, and moderate cytotoxic effects against A549 (lung adenocarcinoma) and HCT-116 (colon cancer) cell lines, as shown by MTT assays. Computational studies employing density functional theory elucidated the electronic structure and reactivity of the synthesized Cu4O3 NPs, revealing a moderate HOMO–LUMO energy gap (1.23 eV), indicative of potential interactions with biological systems, which may contribute to their observed antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. These findings underscore the potential biomedical applications of pumpkin seed-mediated Cu4O3 NPs and provide a foundation for future research in green nanotechnology. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9eb76e001e694f318bfca06d24fd8005 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2191-9097 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | De Gruyter |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanotechnology Reviews |
| spelling | doaj-art-9eb76e001e694f318bfca06d24fd80052025-08-20T03:06:50ZengDe GruyterNanotechnology Reviews2191-90972025-08-0114171521310.1515/ntrev-2025-0203Synthesis of Cu4O3 nanoparticles using pumpkin seed extract: Optimization, antimicrobial, and cytotoxicity studiesKhan Azhar U.0Khan Azmat Ali1Malik Nazia2Her Jun3Gupta Mona4Panda Subhranshu5Imtiyaz Khalid6Alam Rizvi Mohammed Moshahid7Mushtaque Mohammed8Bansod Sudhakar M.9Mohammad Masita10Kim Min11Pyo Kyungsoo12Alam Mahboob13School of Life and Basic Sciences, Jaipur National University, Jaipur, IndiaPharmaceutical Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi ArabiaDeaprtment of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, IndiaDepartment of Safety Engineering, Dongguk University WISE, 123, Dongdaero, Gyeongju-si, 38066, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Physics, Govt. Holkar Science College, Devi Ahilya University, Indore, IndiaSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jaipur National University, Jaipur, IndiaDepartment of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, IndiaDepartment of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, IndiaDepartment of Chemistry, Marwari College (A constituent Unit of L.N. Mithila University, Kameshwarnagar), Darbhanga, Bihar, IndiaBDRM, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, 500007, Telangana, IndiaSolar Energy Research Institute (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Safety Engineering, Dongguk University WISE, 123, Dongdaero, Gyeongju-si, 38066, Republic of KoreaDisaster Information Research Division, National Disaster Management Research Institute, Ulsan, 44538, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Safety Engineering, Dongguk University WISE, 123, Dongdaero, Gyeongju-si, 38066, Republic of KoreaIn pursuit of sustainable nanomaterials, this study presents a green synthesis approach for producing copper oxide (Cu4O3) nanoparticles (NPs) using pumpkin seed extract, a plant-based resource rich in bioactive compounds. Unlike conventional chemical methods, this eco-friendly route enables rapid, cost-effective NP production with minimal environmental impact. Notably, pumpkin seed extract serves a dual function as both a reducing and stabilizing agent during NP formation. The synthesized Cu4O3 NPs were comprehensively characterized using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and UV–visible spectrophotometry. The NPs displayed sizes ranging from 8.92 to 55.84 nm, and the UV–Vis spectrum exhibited a characteristic peak at 332 nm, confirming Cu4O3 formation. A maximum predicted yield of 89.87% was achieved under optimized conditions (7.0 mM CuSO4, 16.26 mL pumpkin seed extract, and 105.71°C), as determined using a Box–Behnken design. Furthermore, the biogenic Cu4O3 NPs demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, with an inhibition zone diameter of 2.8 cm at a concentration of 4 ppm, and moderate cytotoxic effects against A549 (lung adenocarcinoma) and HCT-116 (colon cancer) cell lines, as shown by MTT assays. Computational studies employing density functional theory elucidated the electronic structure and reactivity of the synthesized Cu4O3 NPs, revealing a moderate HOMO–LUMO energy gap (1.23 eV), indicative of potential interactions with biological systems, which may contribute to their observed antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. These findings underscore the potential biomedical applications of pumpkin seed-mediated Cu4O3 NPs and provide a foundation for future research in green nanotechnology.https://doi.org/10.1515/ntrev-2025-0203biogenic approachcu4o3 nanoparticlesbox–behnken designcytotoxicityantibacterial activity |
| spellingShingle | Khan Azhar U. Khan Azmat Ali Malik Nazia Her Jun Gupta Mona Panda Subhranshu Imtiyaz Khalid Alam Rizvi Mohammed Moshahid Mushtaque Mohammed Bansod Sudhakar M. Mohammad Masita Kim Min Pyo Kyungsoo Alam Mahboob Synthesis of Cu4O3 nanoparticles using pumpkin seed extract: Optimization, antimicrobial, and cytotoxicity studies Nanotechnology Reviews biogenic approach cu4o3 nanoparticles box–behnken design cytotoxicity antibacterial activity |
| title | Synthesis of Cu4O3 nanoparticles using pumpkin seed extract: Optimization, antimicrobial, and cytotoxicity studies |
| title_full | Synthesis of Cu4O3 nanoparticles using pumpkin seed extract: Optimization, antimicrobial, and cytotoxicity studies |
| title_fullStr | Synthesis of Cu4O3 nanoparticles using pumpkin seed extract: Optimization, antimicrobial, and cytotoxicity studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synthesis of Cu4O3 nanoparticles using pumpkin seed extract: Optimization, antimicrobial, and cytotoxicity studies |
| title_short | Synthesis of Cu4O3 nanoparticles using pumpkin seed extract: Optimization, antimicrobial, and cytotoxicity studies |
| title_sort | synthesis of cu4o3 nanoparticles using pumpkin seed extract optimization antimicrobial and cytotoxicity studies |
| topic | biogenic approach cu4o3 nanoparticles box–behnken design cytotoxicity antibacterial activity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1515/ntrev-2025-0203 |
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