Optimization of Chemical Synthesis for Production of a Skin-Compatible and Scalable Copper Oxide Nanoparticles - A Promising and Safe Strategy for Healing of Non-infected and Infected Wounds in Diabetes

Aug 29, 2026

Diabetes-related wound healing remains a major public health challenge, with delayed closure and complications such as gangrene or amputation amplified by resistant bacterial strains. This study optimizes a scalable chemical synthesis route to produce skin-compatible copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) while minimizing environmental impact. Characterization using FTIR, DSC, XRD, and TEM confirms successful synthesis. Antibacterial performance is demonstrated against multidrug-resistant diabetic wound pathogens, and irritation testing indicates compatibility with intact and abraded rat skin. In a diabetic animal model, complete healing is achieved by day 15 (non-infected) and day 18 (infected), exceeding commercial dressing outcomes. Further work is required to establish long-term toxicity and stability.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages24

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BioNanoScience (2025) 15:141 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s12668-024-01708-2](https://doi.org/10.1007/s12668-024-01708-2) Optimization of Chemical Synthesis for Production of a Skin‑Compatible and Scalable Copper Oxide Nanoparticles: A Promising and Safe Strategy for Healing of Non‑infected and Infected Wounds in Diabetes Alaa M. Ali1 · Gehad E. Elkhouly2 · Ahmed Orabi3 · Aliaa Ismail2 · Raquel de Melo Barbosa4 · Serena Riela5 · César Viseras4,6 · Yasmin Abo‑zeid2 Accepted: 12 September 2024 / Published online: 21 December 2024 © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024 Abstract The global challenge of wound healing is a critical public health concern, particularly for diabetes. The potential severe outcomes, such as gangrene or amputation, highlight the need for effective and timely treatment. The presence of resistant bacterial strains in diabetic wounds contributes to delayed wound healing, necessitating alternative antimicrobial agents. Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs), have garnered recognition for their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, including efficacy against resistant bacterial strains, along with angiogenic properties. Given the challenges associated with green synthesis, The current study aimed to synthesize CuO-NPs using a scalable chemical method with minimal environmental impact. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first attempt to identify and optimize various factors in the synthesis process to produce a colloidal dispersion of CuO-NPs with properties compatible with rat skin, rendering them suitable for the management of diabetic wounds. The successful synthesis of CuO-NPs was validated with FTIR, DSC, XRD, and TEM. The antibacterial activity of CuO-NPs was also demonstrated against multidrug-resistant bacteria commonly found in diabetic wounds, including; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus aureus where MBC values recorded were, 500, 250, 750, and 225 µg/mL, respectively. Skin irritation test confirmed its compatibility with intact and abraded rat skin. CuO-NPs demonstrated complete wound healing for both non-infected and infected wounds in the diabetic animal model on day 15 and 18 of treatment, surpassing the wound contraction observed with the commercial wound dressing on day 30 and 33 (98% and 94% for non-infected and infected wounds, respectively) . Therefore, CuO-NPs could be considered as a potential nano-medicinal agent for treating wounds in diabetes. However, it is crucial to conduct further studies focusing on its long-term toxicity and stability before advancing to pilot clinical studies. * Yasmin Abo-zeid [yasmin.abozeid@pharm.helwan.edu.eg](yasmin.abozeid@pharm.helwan.edu.eg)[ ](yasmin.abozeid@pharm.helwan.edu.eg)Alaa M. Ali[alaamohamedali13@cu.edu.eg](alaamohamedali13@cu.edu.eg) [Gehad E. Elkhouly](Gehad E. Elkhouly) [gehad.elkhouly@pharm.helwan.edu.eg](gehad.elkhouly@pharm.helwan.edu.eg)[ ](gehad.elkhouly@pharm.helwan.edu.eg)Ahmed Orabi [orabi.vet@cu.edu.eg](orabi.vet@cu.edu.eg) Aliaa Ismail [aliaa_adly@pharm.helwan.edu.eg](aliaa_adly@pharm.helwan.edu.eg) Raquel de Melo Barbosa [rdemelo@us.es](rdemelo@us.es) Serena Riela [serena.riela@unict.it](serena.riela@unict.it) César Viseras [cviseras@ugr.es](cviseras@ugr.es) 1 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 11221, Egypt 2 Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt 3 Microbiology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 11221, Egypt 4 Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, University of Seville, C/Professor García González, 2, 41012 Seville, Spain 5 Dipartimento Di Scienze Chimiche (DSC), University of Catania, V.Le Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy 6 Andalusian Insti

FAQs

What problem does the study address in diabetic wound healing?

Diabetic wounds often heal slowly due to resistant bacterial strains, increasing the risk of severe outcomes such as gangrene and amputation. The work targets the need for effective and timely antimicrobial strategies.

How were the copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) synthesized and optimized?

The study developed a scalable chemical synthesis method with minimal environmental impact, focusing on identifying and optimizing factors to obtain a colloidal CuO-NPs dispersion compatible with rat skin.

How does CuO-NPs perform against bacteria and in wound healing models?

CuO-NPs showed antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria commonly found in diabetic wounds. In diabetic animal models, complete wound healing was observed for non-infected wounds by day 15 and infected wounds by day 18, outperforming a commercial dressing.

Aug 29, 2026

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