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

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 Cu7.2S4 phase. Then, the surface of the synthesized Cu7.2S4 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 Cu7.2S4 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%.