Production and Evaluation of Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Nanocomposite Containing Phytosynthesized Copper nanoparticles with Red Beetroot Extract

Abstract

The development of environmentally-friendly methods for synthesizing nanoparticles is gaining momentum in the field of nanobiotechnology. The aim of this research is to synthesize a Cu@Ag-CPX nanocomposite using a green method with red beetroot extract. Copper nanoparticles were used in the preparation of this new nanocomposite, and in the preparation of Cu NPs, red beetroot extract was utilized as a reducing and stabilizing agent. This biosynthesis method is environmentally-friendly as no chemical agents are used in the production of nanoparticles. The structure and morphology of Cu@Ag-CPX were characterized using FT-IR and XRD. FTIR measurements showed that all functional groups were involved in the reduction and stabilization of nanoparticles. The inhibitory properties of the synthesized compounds were evaluated in laboratory conditions against one Gram-negative and one Gram-positive bacterium, as well as one fungal strain. Finally, this nanocomposite could serve as a new potent antimicrobial agent.