Synthesis of copper precursor, copper and its oxide nanoparticles by green chemical reduction method and its antimicrobial activity

The present investigation reports, the novel synthesis of Copper and Copper oxide nanoparticles using Chemical reduction method and its physicochemical characterization. The nanoparticles have been prepared using Copper (II) succinate as precursor. Copper nanoparticles are initially formed and subsequently oxidized to copper oxide. As reported the nanoparticles were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction measurements (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM analysis exhibited nanoparticles with an average diameter of about 45nm. XRD analysis revealed broad pattern of fcc crystal structure of copper metal and cubic cuprites structure for Cu2O. The antimicrobial properties of copper nanoparticles were investigated using Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The bactericidal effects of copper nanoparticles were studied based on diameter of inhibition zone in disk diffusion tests of nanoparticles dispersed in batch cultures. The copper nanoparticles showed excellent activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with excellent inhibition zones of 14 mm and 10 mm, respectively. Bacterial sensitivity to nanoparticles was found to vary depending on the microbial species.