Bio-engineered copper oxide nanoparticle for high biocompatible improved wound healing: Comprehensive characterization and in vivo & in vitro assessment

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were synthesized using a green technique with Ceropegia fimbriifera floral extract. UV-visible spectroscopy showed an absorption band at 302 nm with a 2.4 eV band gap, indicating an optimized size. FTIR analysis confirmed no incompatibilities, with characteristic peaks at 588 cm-1 (M-O), 1052 cm-1 (aliphatic amines), 2340 cm-1, 2912 cm-1, and 3396 cm-1 (N-H and O-H), 1532 cm-1 and 1376 cm-1 (C-H vibrations), 1638 cm-1 (N-H bending), 3323 cm-1 (O-H), 1600 cm-1 (C--O), and 1719 cm-1 (C-H). Distinct peaks at 540 cm-1, 596 cm-1, and 1038 cm-1 confirmed the formation of CuO NPs. Raman spectroscopy displayed characteristic peaks at 296 cm-1 (Ag), 617 cm-1 (Ag), and 342 cm-1 (Bg), along with three acoustic modes (2Au + Bu) and nine optical phonon modes (4Au + 5Bu + 2Ag + Bg). Photoluminescence showed a 434 nm peak, indicating semiconductor behavior, while zeta potential (-16.2 mV) suggested moderate stability and XRD revealed an average size of 49.23 nm. Wound healing showed 85.54 +/- 0.52 % contraction, while BET reported a pore volume of 0.062 cm3/g and surface area of 12.45 m2/g, suggesting catalytic potential. TEM and SEM analyses revealed spherical, cubic, and irregular particles with an average size of 40 nm, and weight and atomic compositions of 14.58 %, 85.42 %, 9.25 %, and 93.16 %, respectively. SAED confirmed a polycrystalline structure, while XPS showed peaks at 970 eV (Cu 2p), 965 and 945 eV (Cu2p1/2, Cu2p3/2), and 956 and 934 eV (Cu2p1/2, Cu2p3/2). Antibacterial studies showed activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, while cytotoxicity on A549 and K562 cells indicated reduced viability.