Copper sulfide nanostructures: easy synthesis, photocatalytic and doxorubicin anticancer drug delivery applications

Abstract

In this research, an aqueous reflux method was utilized to synthesize copper sulfide nanostructures with different morphologies, such as flower-like based nanosheets and spherical nanoparticles. The reaction was performed in oleic acid medium, using copper(II) acetylacetonate [Cu(acac)₂] and elemental sulfur as the Cu²⁺ and S²⁻ sources, respectively. Then, the effect of refluxing temperature, precursor molar ratios and reaction time on the particle phase and morphology of synthesized particles was investigated. The results show that a 1 : 1 ratio of [Cu (acac)₂] to S²⁻ at 200 °C reflux temperature for 10 h exhibit optimum conditions for forming a pure hexagonal Cu_7.2S₄ phase. Then, the surface of the synthesized Cu_7.2S₄ was also modified by hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG), and the modified nanoparticles were used in the release of the drug doxorubicin at pH = 5.4, pH = 7.4 under in vitro conditions, which was monitored by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results showed that drug release under acidic conditions is greater than that under neutral conditions. Furthermore, by increasing the sulfur content, the sample's morphology was changed from a spherical shape to flower-liked based nanosheets, and the phase tends to be the CuS phase. Finally, the synthesized Cu_7.2S₄ nanostructures were used for the photocatalytic degradation of some dyes, including Reactive Blue 21 (RB21), Reactive Red 120 (RR120), and Reactive Orange 5 (RO5). The results showed that the highest degradation percentage for RB21 pigment was 99%.