Unveiling the therapeutic potential of copper nanoparticles for cancer treatment: a systematic review.

This review centers on the chemical and biological processes involved in the production of copper nanoparticles, which have the potential to prevent and diagnose cancer cells. The dimensions, form, and surface characteristics of Cu NPs may be precisely controlled using chemical methods. Biological techniques, however, provide a green and sustainable approach to create Cu NPs. Copper nanoparticles are becoming promising candidates for cancer therapy because of their unique physicochemical features. They exhibit anticancer activity, i.e. they cause cancer cells to undergo oxidative stress, DNA damage, and apoptosis, which ultimately results in their demise. Also, they are biocompatible. Furthermore, they can be functionalized with targeting ligands that facilitate their specific binding to cancer cells, increasing their specificity and decreasing damage to healthy tissues. Lastly, they possess synergistic effects, allowing them to be utilized in conjunction with further anticancer agents, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy medications, to enhance their efficiency. Cu NPs were tested on their ability to fight cancer by utilizing cancer cell lines that target breast, prostate, liver, lung, ovarian, colon, and cervical. The findings revealed that Cu NPs resulted in substantial cytotoxic effects on cancer cells leading to apoptosis in cancer cells. Overall, the review article highlights the potential of Cu NPs synthesized by chemical and physical methods as effective anticancer agents and underscores the importance of nanoparticle synthesis methods.