Basic and Clinical Cancer Reports
Quarterly Publication

Copper and copper oxide nanoparticles: antibacterial and anticancer effects on human pathogens

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Faezeh Ataei 1
Aria Rastin 2
Mohammad Reza Atashzar 2

1 Health Reference Laboratory of Iran, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Immunology, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.

Abstract
From the past to the present day, one of the biggest threats to human health has been bacterial infections, which over time has led to an increase in antibiotic resistance due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics for their treatment. Therefore, one of the potential ways to deal with bacterial antibiotic resistance is by using metal oxide and metal nanoparticles (MNPs). Among a wide range of nanoparticles with bacteriostatic or bactericidal properties, copper nanoparticles (CuNPs), and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) have attracted much attention due to their unique characteristics and numerous roles in the fields of biomedical sciences and nanomedicine. This article aims to investigate different methods of synthesizing copper (Cu) and CuO NPs using plant extracts, and bacteria, and then to investigate the mechanism of these nanoparticles as bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity. Finally, the importance of these nanoparticles in the prevention or treatment of many human infectious diseases, including (wound infection, dental infections, etc.), was evaluated, and assuming their use for the prevention or treatment of people with infectious diseases and cancers, and finally, their benefits and challenges were discussed.

Keywords

copper nanoparticles
copper oxide nanoparticles
antibacterial effect
cancers
Basic and Clinical Cancer Reports
Volume 1, Issue 1
Summer 2026

  • Receive Date 04 June 2026
  • Accept Date 13 June 2026

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