Antibacterial activity of Cu@Ag nanocomposites against water bacterial pollution

Azzam, Ahmed M.; Hazaa, Mahmoud M.; El Saeed, Ashraf M.; Abdel-Naem, Mai A.

doi:10.21608/jbes.2017.369626

Antibacterial activity of Cu@Ag nanocomposites against water bacterial pollution

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Environmental Researches Department, Theoder Bilharz Research Institute, Egypt

² Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Banha University, Egypt.

³ Petroleum Application Department, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Egypt.

10.21608/jbes.2017.369626

Abstract

Nanomaterials have a great potential in purifying water and wastewater treatment due to their tremendous antibacterial
activity. In the present study, Cu@Ag nanocomposite (NC) was synthesized and characterized using scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope. The antibacterial activity of Cu@Ag NC was tested against
water Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus sp.) and Gram-negative one (Escherichia coli) using well diffusion
method and minimum inhibition concentration (MIC). Transmission electron microscopy images of fabricated Cu@Ag
NC showed that particles are spherical and with average diameter ranged from 25-45 nm. The highest inhibition zones
for E. coli and Staphylococcus sp. were 25.6±1.6 and 28.3±1.6 mm, respectively at 0.4 mg/ml of Cu@Ag NC. The MIC
concentrations for E. coli and Staphylococcus sp. were 21±2.2 and 16±1.4 µg/ml, respectively. So, the Cu@Ag NC was
more effective for Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative one. Accordingly, the Cu@Ag NC could be suggested as
an effective antibacterial agent for treatment of water bacterial pollution.

Keywords