Biogenic sol-gel synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using prodigiosin from Serratia rubidaea: dual roles in reduction, capping, and biomedical cytotoxicity

Chavan, KJ, Kala, VDP, Potinde, AR, Bhagwat, SR, Gurajada, HS, Chen, X ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7091-1414 and Juvekar, MP, 2026. Biogenic sol-gel synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using prodigiosin from Serratia rubidaea: dual roles in reduction, capping, and biomedical cytotoxicity. Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, 117: 7. ISSN 0928-0707

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Abstract

This study presents a sustainable synthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles via a sol-gel approach utilizing prodigiosin pigment extracted from Serratia rubidaea as a green biogenic agent. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of employing prodigiosin from Serratia rubidaea in the sol-gel synthesis of CuO nanoparticles. Copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O) served as the precursor, reacting with the bio-pigment under controlled conditions to yield CuO nanomaterials. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization confirmed nanoparticle formation and composition: scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed morphology, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified characteristic Cu-O vibrational modes, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) established the presence and proportions of copper, oxygen, and carbon, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the monoclinic phase (JCPDS Card No. 00-001-1117). Ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy exhibited absorption peaks at 329.5, 365.0, and 388.5 nm, corresponding to an estimated optical band gap of 2.95 eV. The dual role of prodigiosin as a natural reducing and capping agent highlights the eco-friendly and innovative nature of this synthesis. The resultant CuO nanoparticles exhibit properties comparable or superior to those synthesised with other biological agents reported recently. Preliminary cytotoxicity assessment using the Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay against MCF-7 breast cancer cells demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability, achieving a maximum mortality of 32.9% at 80 μg/mL. Although the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was not reached within the tested range, these findings suggest promising anticancer potential and warrant further biomedical investigations of the synthesised biofunctionalized CuO nanoparticles.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology
Creators:	Chavan, K.J., Kala, V.D.P., Potinde, A.R., Bhagwat, S.R., Gurajada, H.S., Chen, X. and Juvekar, M.P.
Publisher:	Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date:	3 January 2026
Volume:	117
ISSN:	0928-0707
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1007/s10971-025-07082-z DOI 2553241 Other
Rights:	This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10971-025-07082-z
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Laura Borcherds
Date Added:	20 Jan 2026 16:14
Last Modified:	20 Jan 2026 16:14
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/55092

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