Green-fabrication of Copper Nanoparticles Using Pistia Stratiotes for Sustainable Synthesis and Assessment of in vitro Apoptosis Cell Death Mechanism and other Biomedical Potential

Kanipandian Nagarajan; Anet Mathew; Megha  Prasanth; Anitha TS; Mahesh Mohan

doi:10.31557/APJCB.2026.11.4.977

Authors

Kanipandian Nagarajan School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala - 686 560, India. Department of Life Sciences,School of Science, Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, Navanihal, Kalaburagi, Karnataka – 585 313, India.
Anet Mathew School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala - 686 560, India.
Megha Prasanth 3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry - 605 014, India.
Anitha TS Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry - 605 014, India.
Mahesh Mohan School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala - 686 560, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCB.2026.11.4.977

Keywords:

Copper Nanoparticles, Pistia stratiotes, MCF-7 cells, Apoptosis, Antioxidant & Antimicrobial activity

Abstract

Objective: Cancer remains a major global health challenge, ranking among the leading causes of death due to increasing incidence and mortality rates, which hinder efforts to achieve longer life expectancy worldwide. Since its conceptual introduction, nanomedicine explored for potential applications in a wide variety of illnesses. The plant-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles offers cost-effective and environment-friendly alternative to conventional methods.

Methods: The current research designed to focus on the effective utilization of aquatic weed for biomaterials synthesis and the investigation of its biomedical potential in vitro. In this study, copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) was synthesized using Pistia stratiotes leaves extract, reflecting novelty of this work in the field of nanosciences. The synthesized CuNPs were characterized using UV Vis absorption spectra, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscope, and X-ray diffraction. The cytotoxicity, apoptotic mechanism, morphological changes revealed by AO/EtBr and DAPI staining, and cell migration of CuNPs were evaluated using MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The present study further investigated the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the CuNPs.

Results: UV-Vis analysis revealed the surface plasmon resonance property of CuNPs, showing a characteristic absorption peak at 320 nm, while HRTEM indicated the nanoparticles were mono-dispersed, spherical in shape, and ranged in size from 20 to 30 nm. The anticancer study clearly demonstrated that CuNPs induced apoptosis as the cancer cell death pathway and inhibited the proliferation and migration of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The antimicrobial effects of the green-synthesized CuNPs were examined against against human pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms. This research further highlighted the possible applications of CuNPs for in vitro targeting of free radical scavenging.

Conclusion: In conclusion, this commencement research clearly demonstrated the effective utilization of aquatic weed for the production of biomaterials and highlighted novel strategies for biomedical potential.