Copper Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Their Applications in Medicine

Year 2025, Issue: 014, 24 - 40, 30.12.2025

Hussein Elaibi , Farah Mutlag , Ebru Halvacı , Fatih Şen

Abstract

Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) have emerged as versatile nanomaterials with significant biomedical potential owing to their unique optical, electrical, thermal, and catalytic properties. As an essential trace element, copper plays a pivotal role in various physiological processes, including metabolism, cardiovascular health, and tissue regeneration, making its nanoscale forms particularly relevant for medical applications. This review offers a thorough synthesis of existing research on CuNPs. Encompassing their preparation via chemical, physical, and biologically mediated (green) approaches, alongside detailed characterization techniques essential for correlating size, morphology, and surface chemistry with biological performance. Special emphasis is placed on their multifunctional roles in antimicrobial therapy, targeted drug delivery, cancer treatment, and imaging-guided diagnostics, as well as their integration into theranostic platforms. The toxicological profile of CuNPs, including their cellular interactions, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and potential environmental impact, is critically discussed. Furthermore, the review outlines recent advances and future perspectives, highlighting the importance of precise synthesis control, advanced characterization, and rigorous safety evaluation to facilitate the safe and effective clinical translation of these technologies. This review aims to link synthesis strategies, physicochemical properties, and biomedical functionalities of CuNPs while identifying challenges and research priorities that can accelerate their translation from laboratory to clinical practice.

Keywords

Copper nanoparticles , green synthesis , nanomedicine , antimicrobial activity , drug delivery , cancer therapy , toxicity assessment

Copper Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Their Applications in Medicine

Abstract

Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) have emerged as versatile nanomaterials with significant biomedical potential owing to their unique optical, electrical, thermal, and catalytic properties. As an essential trace element, copper plays a pivotal role in various physiological processes, including metabolism, cardiovascular health, and tissue regeneration, making its nanoscale forms particularly relevant for medical applications. This review offers a thorough synthesis of existing research on CuNPs. encompassing their preparation via chemical, physical, and biologically mediated (“green”) approaches, alongside detailed characterization techniques essential for correlating size, morphology, and surface chemistry with biological performance. Special emphasis is placed on their multifunctional roles in antimicrobial therapy, targeted drug delivery, cancer treatment, and imaging-guided diagnostics, as well as their integration into theranostic platforms. The toxicological profile of CuNPs, including their cellular interactions, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and potential environmental impact, is critically discussed. Furthermore, the review outlines recent advances and future perspectives, highlighting the importance of precise synthesis control, advanced characterization, and rigorous safety evaluation to facilitate their safe and effective clinical translation. This review aims to link synthesis strategies, physicochemical properties, and biomedical functionalities of CuNPs while identifying challenges and research priorities that can accelerate their translation from laboratory to clinical practice.

Keywords

Copper nanoparticles , green synthesis , nanomedicine , antimicrobial activity , drug delivery , cancer therapy , toxicity assessment

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