Synthesis of copper-reduced graphene oxide nanomaterials using glucose and study of its antibacterial and anticancer activities

Abstract In this work, glucose-capped copper nanoparticles decorated reduced graphene oxide nanomaterial are synthesized at 100 °C and 200 °C via chemical reduction method and studied for their antibacterial and anticancer activities. Synthesized nanomaterials were characterized using x-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared, transmission electron microscope, and RAMAN. It is observed in transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction studies that copper nanoparticles deposited onto reduced graphene oxide are smaller than nanoparticles generated in the absence of reduced graphene oxide. Also, the size of copper nanoparticles synthesized at 200 °C is smaller than at 100 °C. Results suggest that Cu/Glu/rGO synthesized at both temperatures showed significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus anthracis, similarly, showed significant cell death in cancer cell lines [Cal33 and HCT-116 p53 (+/+)]. Interestingly, the nanomaterials were seen to be more effective against the cancer cell lines harboring aggregating mutant p53. Tumors with aggregating mutants of p53 are difficult to treat hence, Cu/Glu/rGO can be promising therapeutic agents against these difficult cancers. However, the antibacterial and anticancer activity of Cu/Glu/rGO synthesized at 100 °C where Cu 2 O form is obtained was found to be more effective compared to Cu/Glu/rGO synthesized at 200 °C where Cu form is obtained. Though fine-tuning of the material may be required for its commercial applications.