effect and properties of surface-modified copper doped zno nanoparticles (cu:zno nps) on killing curves of bacterial pathogens

background: the current study aimed to determine the effect and properties of surface-modified copper doped cu:zno nps on killing curves of bacterial pathogens. m ethods:   preparation  of   in  situ   surface-modified  copper  doped  zno nanoparticles (cu:zno nps) was done according to standard procedure.assay for antimicrobial activity of cu:zno nps against bacterial pathogens was carried out based on disc diffusion method. determination of shelf life, thermal and ph stability of antibacterial activity of cu:zno nps was done and residual activity was determined against the target cultures. results: ftir spectra indicate that the nanomaterials synthesized have higher peak intensity compared with reagent grade zno. according to the sem image the nanoparticles synthesized have different size and heterogeneous morphology.  400  ppm  of  cu:zno  nps  gave  zones  of  inhibition  with diameters of 9.0 – 16 mm against the target cultures. amongst the target cultures, escherchia coli was the most sensitive to the cu:zno nps inhibition zone diameter 16 mm; whereas, 9 mm wide inhibition zone was obtained against   staphylococcus  aureus . the  cu:zno  nps  was  fairly stable  for a period of 60 days at room temperature (rt) showing lost of only 20% and 30%     antibacterial  activity  as  tested  against   e.  coli   and   s.  aureus , respectively. the cu:zno nps was quite stable at this ph and temperature range tested against both e. coli and s. aureus . conclusion: surface-modified copper doped cu:zno nps have significant potential for their usefulness as antibacterial agents.