Cytotoxicity evaluation and antimicrobial studies of starch capped water soluble copper nanoparticles

► Bactericidal action of water soluble starch copper nanoconjugate was investigated. ► Mode of action comparable to ampicillin and MIC as low as 1.6 μg/ml. ► The SCuNPs were non-toxic to mouse embryonic fibroblasts. ► Cell viability was higher than uncapped CuNPs and cupric ions. ► Promising biomedical applications due to high therapeutic index.