Synthesis and characterization of Cu and Ag based mixed metal nanoparticle composite for antibacterial applications

Abstract

Iodinated mixed metal (copper, Cu and silver, Ag) nanoparticle (NPs) composite was prepared in chitosan polymeric matrix and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The TEM analysis demonstrated that the Cu NPs and Ag NPs had an average size of 11.4 nm and 3.4 nm, respectively. Detailed antibacterial studies have been carried out on green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing
Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. The synergistic antibacterial effect of iodinated mixed NP composite on E. coli was found to be more effective as compared to the individual components of the composite. Electron microscopic studies revealed that both Cu NPs and Ag NPs were attached to the bacterial cell wall leading to irreversible damage and eventual bacterial death.