Copper / Chitosan Nanocomposite Prepared by Chemical Method for Active Antimicrobial Activity

Abstract

Background: Chitosan is a promising polymeric that has received much attention recently. Chitosan nanoparticles have wide applications as a nanocarrier for different organic and inorganic substances. Materials and Methods: In the present study, copper (CuNPs), chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) and Cu/CS nanocomposite (Cu/CNC) were prepared and characterized. All prepared nanoparticles were inspected by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM ), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), UV/VIS spectroscopy, and zeta potential. Finally, the antimicrobial activity of CuNPs, CNPs and Cu/CNC was tested by disc diffusion assay at different concentrations (0.5-2 mg/ml) against Candida albicans, Klebsiella. pneumoniae , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Proteus mirabilis , Cryptococcus sp. , Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter sp. Results: The results showed an absorbance peak at 550 nm due to the presence of Cu/CNC. From the FTIR spectrum, a peak at 686.66 cm-1 refers to the copper successfully binding with chitosan. Furthermore, the particle size average of Cu/CNC was 36.34 - 48.27 Cu/CNC has the highest growth inhibition zone at a concentration of 2 mg/ml against C.albicans, P.aeruginosa and S.aureus with the diameters (9.75±0.35, 15±1.41, 15.5±0.70) mm, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that Cu/CNC has higher antimicrobial activity than CNPs and CuNPs. It presented higher antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria than gram-positive bacteria. Keywords: Copper nanoparticles, Chitosan nanoparticles, nanocomposite, XRD, FE_SEM Antimicrobial activity.