Nanoparticles of copper and copper oxides: Synthesis and Determination of antibacterial activity

Abstract In the present study, nanoparticles of copper and copper oxides were synthesized and their antibacterial activity was evaluated and compared with silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were synthesized using facile chemical reactions, and then characterized using field emission scanning microscopy. The nanoparticles were stable for at least two weeks. The antibacterial activity of the nanoparticles against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcusfaecalis and Escherichia coli was investigated based on inhibition zone in disk diffusion assay. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of the nanoparticles were also reported. Antibacterial activity of the nanoparticles showed better inhibitory activity against gram positive bacteria.