Effects of Green Synthesized Silver, Copper and Silver-Copper Bimetallic Nanoparticles on Foodborne Pathogens
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v14i4.952-957.8348Keywords:
silver, copper, bimetallic, nanoparticle, antimicrobial activity, green synthesisAbstract
The present study aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity of silver (Ag), copper (Cu), and Ag–Cu bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) synthesized at different concentrations via pomegranate peel extract usage as a reducing agent. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus by disk and well diffusion assays. AgNPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity across all tested pathogens, with the most pronounced effect observed at 0.05 M, particularly against S. Aureus (p < 0.05). In contrast, CuNPs demonstrated lower antibacterial efficacy, with the strongest inhibition at 0.1 M, while significantly reduced activity was recorded at lower concentrations (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, 0.05 M AgNPs and 0.1 M CuNPs were selected for the synthesis of Ag–Cu BMNPs at different ratios (1:1, 1:2, and 2:1, v/v). BMNPs exhibited enhanced antibacterial activity compared to their monometallic counterparts, indicating a synergistic effect between silver and copper (p < 0.05). The antibacterial efficacy was found to be strain-dependent, with S. aureus showing greater sensitivity (1:1, v/v) to compositional variations, while S. Typhimurium and L. monocytogenes exhibited relatively stable inhibition across different ratios (1:2, 2:1, v/v). Overall, the results highlighted the superior antimicrobial potential of Ag–Cu BMNPs and suggest their promising application as novel antimicrobial substances to address the challenge of multidrug-resistant pathogens.
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