Fluconazole Functionalized Copper Oxide—Chitosan Nanocomposite for Bioengineering Applications Against Human Breast Cancer Therapies

Abstract A novel nanocomposite has been developed by combining the antifungal drug fluconazole (FCZ), copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), and a chitosan (CS) matrix. This nanocomposite assessed its enhanced anticancer activity and compatibility with biological systems. The synthesis of the nanocomposite was carried out using an in situ method. Various techniques, including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV‐visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), and particle size distribution (PSD) analysis were used to characterize the material comprehensively. The FCZ‐CuO‐CS nanocomposite showed enhanced antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal strains, which was even more pronounced than the CuO NPs. This enhanced activity is due to the collaborative effects of FCZ, CuO NPs, and CS. Additionally, the nanocomposite was tested for its potential as an anti‐cancer agent using the tetrazolium salt, 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on MCF‐7 breast cancer cell lines. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in its ability to inhibit the proliferation of MCF‐7 cells compared to using fluconazole alone. These results highlight the potential of the FCZ‐CuO‐CS nanocomposite as a promising therapeutic option for treating human breast cancer.