Biocompatible synthesis of peptide capped copper nanoparticles and their biological effect on tumor cells

Extracellular synthesis of copper nanoparticles was carried out using stem latex of a medicinally important plant, Euphorbia nivulia. The nanoparticles were stabilized and subsequently capped by peptides and terpenoids present within the latex. The protein capping is a promising biocompatible vehicle for destruction of tumor/cancer cells. The cytotoxicity potential of the plant protein capped nanoparticles was evaluated using various parameters like MTT cell viability assay and extracellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in cancer cell line. Other parameters that determine the oxidative stress viz., reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide generation and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining were also investigated. The present study led to the conclusion that copper nanoparticles are toxic to A549 cells in a dose dependent manner. The non-toxic aqueous formulation of latex capped copper nanoparticles can be directly used for administration/in vivo delivery of nanoparticles for cancer therapy.

► Protein capped copper nanoparticles were obtained by simple and rapid biosynthetic approach.
► In vitro Cytotoxicity of nanoparticles assessed in human lung carcinoma cells.
► Elevated indices of oxidative stress and cellular damages in A549 cells were recorded.
► This biocompatible nanoparticle formulation effective as delivery system against cancer cells.