CuO nanoparticles were synthesized at a relatively low temperature (80 degrees C) for 2 h using polyethylene glycol-glycerol mixture which acts as a capping agent. A detailed characterization of the synthesized nanomaterials were performed utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), infra-red spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) by studying its crystalline phase, vibrational mode, thermal analysis, morphology and photoluminescence properties. The effect of annealing on the as-prepared nanoparticles were studied and compared with their corresponding bulk counterpart. The synthesized nanoparticles have been screened for in vitro cytotoxicity (IC50) studies against the human cervical adenocarcinoma cell line (HeLa) using MTT assay methods. The as-prepared nanoparticle inhibits the proliferation of this HeLa cell. The standard disc diffusion method has been used to study the antibacterial activity of the samples against the human pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli (MTCC 729), Proteus mirabilis (MTCC 425) and Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae (MTCC 432). The results have been compared with the positive control antibiotic gentamycin. The synthesized nanoparticles would provide a potential alternative to antibiotics for controlling some of the microorganisms causing urolithiasis. (C) 2014 Meitram Niraj Luwang. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.