Enhancement of cytotoxic and apoptotic activity through oolong tea extract-mediated CuO/Cu2O nanoparticles

The development of multifunctional nanoformulations with enhanced anticancer activity and drug delivery potential is of increasing scientific importance. In this study, we synthesized and characterized copper oxide nanoparticles mediated by oolong tea extract (OE-CuO/Cu2O NPs) using a variety of techniques, including TEM, XRD, FTIR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy, to assess their physical and chemical properties. Remarkably, the results revealed that OE/CuO NPs exhibited significantly enhanced anticancer activity compared to OE alone. The effects of OE and OE-CuO/Cu2O NPs were on cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression. Furthermore, we assessed the impact of these nanostructures on CD44/24 antibodies, known as aggressive cell markers, following treatment. The green OE-CuO/Cu2O NPs displayed remarkable inhibitory effects on colon cancer HCT116 and breast cancer cells MCF-7 cells. It was shown that OE-CuO/Cu2O NPs reduced the production of the CD44 antibody, provided cell cycle arrest, and encouraged apoptosis. More specifically, it was discovered that these NPs caused MCF-7 cells to undergo apoptosis and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. Additionally, drug delivery investigations were conducted to evaluate the potential of OE-CuO/Cu2O NPs as drug nanocarriers, further underscoring their promise in developing novel anticancer agents with significant cytotoxic, apoptotic, and drug delivery properties. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.