Eco-friendly Cu/NiO nanoparticle synthesis: Catalytic potential in isatin-based chalcone synthesis for anticancer activity

Isatin (1H-indole-2,3‑dione) is a natural heterocyclic compound extracted from various plants and has biological activity as an anticancer agent. Chalcones with the addition of several functional groups (hydroxyl, carboxyl, phenyl, etc.) may become useful templates for the development of new anticancer agents. In this study, we have synthesized Cu/NiO nanoparticles using the sol-gel method involving annona muricata L leaf extract and used as catalysts for the synthesis of isatin-based chalcone. These compounds will be applied as anticancer agents against MCF-7 cancer cell. According to the characterization results using FT-IR, XRD, FESEM-EDS, the crystal size for Cu/NiO nanoparticles was 5.4566 nm and the particle size was 25.081 ± 8.422 nm with irregular spherical shapes. The synthesis of isatin based on chalcone using the reflux method refers to the claisen schmidt condensation reaction using 5% mmol Cu/NiO nanoparticles resulting in yields for each product of 50 % (product 1), 32.37 % (product 2), 24.29 % (product 3), 32.35 % (product 4), 50.86 % (product 5), and 69.88 % (product 6). The effectiveness of the six products against MCF-7 cancer cells can be seen from the IC50 values as follows product 1 (IC50 = 0.00157 µg/ml), product 2 (IC50 = 100.897 µg/ml), product 3 (IC50 = 81.991 µg/ml), product 4 (IC50 = 8107.54 µg/ml), product 5 (IC50 = 77.9291 µg/ml), product 6 (IC50 = 25.4521 µg/ml). Based on the IC50 value obtained, it shows that product 1 and product 6 have strong activity when compared to another product on against MCF-7 cancer cells. • Acetophenone as a simple ketone was modified to 2-acetylpyridine. • Modification was performed adding Cu/NiO nanoparticle as catalyst. • Final products exhibited anticancer activity (MCF-7).