Multifunctional Copper (I) Oxide Nanoparticles: Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline, Antibacterial, and Anticancer Activities

Abstract

The increasing use of metal oxide nanoparticles demands a better understanding of their health impact. Here, we report the synthesis of copper (I) oxide nanoparticles (Cu₂O NPs) using cost-effective chemical methods and assessed their photocatalytic, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern verified its cubic structure. The average crystallite size of 11 nm was obtained using the Scherrer method. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the formation of Cu₂O NPs. The spherical morphology was confirmed through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) estimated the size of the nanoparticles to be around 15 nm. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra of Cu₂O NPs showed peaks at 931.75 and 951.82 eV, corresponding to Cu 2p_3/2 and Cu 2p_1/2, respectively. UV–vis spectroscopy revealed the optical direct bandgap (2.33 eV) of Cu₂O NPs. Under light irradiation, the Cu₂O NPs catalyst achieved a tetracycline (TC) degradation efficiency of 80% within 75 min. The antibacterial properties of Cu₂O NPs against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bacillus subtilis using agar disk diffusion have been investigated. The Cu₂O NPs also exhibited significant anticancer activity against MCF-7 cancer cells using the MTT assay, with an IC₅₀ value of 18.88 µg/mL.