Sustainable synthesis of Cu NPs decorated on pectin modified Fe3O4 nanocomposite: Catalytic synthesis of 1-substituted-1H-tetrazoles and in-vitro studies on its cytotoxicity and anti-colorectal adenocarcinoma effects on HT-29 cell lines

A great deal of modern catalytic research orients around the architecturally designed bio-engineered catalysts. In this context, we have adorned Cu NPs over pectin encapsulated Fe3O4 NPs. The Cu NPs were generated following a biogenic green pathway over the core-shell type nanocomposite promoted by Mentha Pulegium flower extract as natural reducing/stabilizing agent. The as-synthesized nanocomposite was meticulously characterized by using a wide range of physicochemical techniques like FT-IR, FESEM, TEM, EDX, elemental mapping, VSM, XRD and ICP-OES analysis. The catalyst was explored in the synthesis of diversely substituted 1H-tetrazoles via three component coupling reaction (MCR), under solvent-less conditions affording high to excellent yields. Heterogeneity of the catalyst was measured through its excellent reusability, hot-filtration test and leaching study. The nanocomposite was also explored biologically in the anticancer assays. In the cytotoxicity and anti-human colon carcinoma studies, the nanocomposite was treated to colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cell line following MTT assay. The cell viability of malignant colon cell line reduced dose-dependently in the presence of Cu/Pectin@Fe3O4 nanocomposite. IC50 values of the nanocomposite were observed to be 1450.84 mu g/mL against HT-29 cell line. The outstanding results showed by the developed nanocomposite, could be highly promising in cancer management in near future. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.

Automated summary

This study presents a novel catalyst with copper nanoparticles decorated over pectin encapsulated Fe3O4 nanoparticles, which was extensively characterized using various physicochemical techniques. The catalyst showed high efficiency in the synthesis of 1H-tetrazoles and exhibited promising results in anticancer assays.