Abstract
Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) can offer an alternative to conventional copper bactericides and possibly slow down the development of bacterial resistance. This will consequently lower the accumulation rate of copper to soil and water and lower the environmental and health burden imposed by copper application. Physical and chemical methods have been reported to synthesize CuNPs but their use as bactericides in plants has been understudied. In this study, two different CuNPs products have been developed, CuNP1 and CuNP2 in two respective concentrations (1500 ppm or 300 ppm). Both products were characterized using Dynamic Light Scattering, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Attenuated Total Reflection measurements, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction and Scattering, and Laser Doppler Electrophoresis. They were evaluated for their antibacterial efficacy in vitro against the gram-negative species Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Dickeya dadantii, Erwinia amylovora, Pectobacterium carotovorum, Pseudomonas corrugata, Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi, and Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. Evaluation was based on comparisons with two commercial bactericides: Kocide (copper hydroxide) and Nordox (copper oxide). CuNP1 inhibited the growth of five species, restrained the growth of P. corrugata, and had no effect in X. c. pv campestris. MICs were significantly lower than those of the commercial formulations. CuNP2 inhibited the growth of E. amylovora and restrained growth of P. s. pv. savastanoi. Again, its overall activity was higher compared to commercial formulations. An extensive in vitro evaluation of CuNPs that show higher potential compared to their conventional counterpart is reported for the first time and suggests that synthesis of stable CuNPs can lead to the development of low-cost sustainable commercial products.
Highlights
Copper-based nanoparticles (CuNPs) have been synthesized since the early 1990s [1,2]
CuNP2 narrow size distribution with an average particle size of 10.41 ± 1.2 nm (Figure 1b), being evident of presented a narrow size distribution with an average particle size of 10.41 ± 1.2 nm (Figure 1b), being larger size values compared to CuNP1
Evident of larger size values compared to CuNP1
Summary
Copper-based nanoparticles (CuNPs) have been synthesized since the early 1990s [1,2]. According to the European Commission definition, CuNPs are described as media, where at least 50% of the particles exhibit sizes of below 100 nm [3] They were initially used for energy conversion and storage, chemical and material manufacturing due to their catalytic (mostly), optical and conductive properties [4,5,6]. Five major methods for Cu-based NPs have been developed including thermal treatment, sonochemical and photochemical techniques, electrochemical synthesis, and chemical treatment [7]. The latter is the most popular among them. Apart from the methodology, the challenge is to achieve the production of a small range size of CuNPs with strong stability and antimicrobial activity
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