Copper Oxide Nanoparticles: Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Biomedical Applications

Copper oxide is a p-type semiconductor which has many applications in a different field. Copper oxide has excellent applications as an antioxidant, antibacterial, and antitumor or anticancer. Copper oxide nanoparticle combines with the cell membrane and enters into a cell; generate reactive oxygen specie (ROS), which causes oxidative stress in the cell. Oxidative stress leads to metastasis, cancer proliferation, apoptosis, DNA damage, cytotoxicity, and unregulated cell signaling. Hydroxyl free radical generated by Nanoparticles, combined with DNA and yield 8-hydroxyl-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), resultantly DNA is damaged. CuO nanoparticle shows antibacterial activity on different bacterial strains such as staphylococcus aureus, bacillus circulens BP2, Escherichia coli, and P. aeruginosa. Recently, CuO nanoparticles have applications in the detection of Cholesterol, lactate biosensor, DNA sequencing of microbe, and anti-HIV drug analysis. There is specialized CuO nanoparticle such as Glucose sensor, Hydrogen peroxide sensor, Immunosensor, Dopamine sensor for the detection of the different biomolecule. ROS generated by CuO nanoparticle causes toxicity, which leads to cell death. There is a fascinating area of research against tumors by nanoparticle use because of its antitumor nature. Metal nanoparticle exhibits anticancer activity due to physicochemical properties as antioxidant action or use of external stimuli. Free radical which are produced by the metal nanoparticle, kill cancer cells.