Copper oxide nanoparticles (CUNPs) were synthesized using Olea europaea leaf extract as reducing and protecting agent. The formation of nanoparticles was observed through a color change from yellowish to brownish black. The CUNPs were confirmed with UV-Vis spectrophotometer, which revealed a peak absorbance at 289 nm. The synthesized CUNPs were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TEM. The XRD pattern revealed that CUNPs were crystalline in nature with a diameter around 20 nm. FTIR spectral analysis showed that CUNPs were capped with plant constituents. From SEM and TEM analyses, the CUNPs were generally found to be spherical in shape, and the size range was 20-50 nm. Free radical scavenging potential of CUNPs against DPPH was confirmed by its stable antioxidant effects. In addition, the toxicity of CUNPs in mice was also assessed by body weight and weights of liver, kidneys, spleen, and thymus. The immune response in mice was signaled through an obvious change in spleen and thymus index, with a decrease of ADA enzyme activity in serum, spleen, and thymus after CUNPs treatment. The CUNPs were found to exert cell growth arrest against AMJ-13 and SKOV-3 cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner and induce cell death by apoptosis. Less significant cytotoxic effect was observed in normal dermal fibroblast cells. These findings suggest that CUNPs may have the potential to be anticancer agents. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:218-230, 2018.

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This study was designed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of copper nanoparticles in murine adenocarcinoma cells (AMN-3). The exposure period of cell line was performed at 24 hr in a microtitration plate under complete sterile conditions. Different concentrations were used started from 0.39 μgmL-1to 50 μgmL-1 in three independent experiments. First, the cells were stained by MTT and the absorbance were measured using Elisa reader at 492 nm. The treatment with nanoparticles showed a significant inhibition (P< 0.05) on cells and the effect was concentration dependent, the highest inhibition was 88% at 50 μgmL-1, while was 15% at 0.39 μgmL-1 and the inhibitory concentration 50 was 1.5 μgmL-1. The cell death was evaluated in cell line after a treatment with CUNPs through two types of assessments, which were mitochondrial membrane potential assay and acridine orange- ethidium bromide dual staining assays. Results revealed that the tested substances showed a potent inhibitory cytotoxic effect against the proliferation of AMN-3 cells through apoptosis.