Kumari, Neetu2026-03-242026-03-242025http://cuh.ndl.gov.in/handle/123456789/1830Traditional cancer treatments are often associated with high toxicity and significant side effects, limiting the safe dosage range for patients. To address these challenges, there is a critical need for specific medications with reduced toxicity and enhanced efficacy. This study combined the unique anticancer properties of L-carnosine, a dipeptide, and copper to synthesize L-carnosine-capped copper nanoclusters (Cu4L5). The nanoclusters were characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, HR-TEM, HR-MS, and EDX mapping. The synthesized Cu4L5 exhibited synergistic anticancer effects against A549 lung cancer cells, as evidenced by MTT assay results showing significantly higher cytotoxicity toward cancer cells while demon strating minimal toxicity to normal Vero-2 cells, as indicated by IC50 values. Their anticancer properties were compared to those of L-carnosine alone and copper nanoclusters stabilized with L-histidine. Cu4L5 exhibited approximately twofold greater anticancer activity, confirming the enhanced efficacy of the L-carnosine-CuNCs combination. Additionally, CuNCs enable the detection of GSH in solution within the nanomolar concentration range using the Stern-Volmer equation. Computational studies of nanoclusters further revealed that copper atoms bind with ligands through its N of imidazole ring and C––O group, leaving carboxylate and NH2 sites available for interacting with cancer cells. This dual functionality of Cu4L5, combining therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities, highlights its potential as a promising candidate for targeted cancer treatment with minimal off-target effects.en