Cu2O Nanoparticles as Nanocarriers and Its Antibacterial Efficacy
María Isabel Torres-Ramos1, Ubaldo de Jesús Martín-Camacho1, Jorge Alberto Sánchez-Burgos2
1Nanomaterials, Water and Energy Research Laboratory, Centro de Estudios para la Agricultura, la Alimentación y la Crisis Climática (CEAACC), Centro Universitario de los Altos, Universidad de Guadalajara, Tepatitlán de Morelos 47600, Mexico.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 28, 2024
Summary
This study synthesized copper(II) oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles using sol-gel and functionalized them with plant extracts. Functionalized nanoparticles showed mesoporous structures, with green extract yielding more uniform pores for potential drug delivery and catalysis.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Green Chemistry
Background:
- Copper(II) oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles are versatile materials with applications in catalysis, drug delivery, and adsorption.
- Developing sustainable and cost-effective synthesis methods for functionalized nanoparticles is crucial.
- Plant-derived extracts offer a promising route for nanoparticle functionalization due to their eco-friendly nature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize Cu2O nanoparticles via sol-gel method.
- To functionalize Cu2O nanoparticles using extracts from Rauvolfioideae subfamily plants and citrus fruits.
- To characterize the structural, textural, and morphological properties of the functionalized nanoparticles and evaluate their potential applications.
Main Methods:
- Sol-gel synthesis for Cu2O nanoparticle preparation.
- Functionalization using plant extracts (Rauvolfioideae and citrus).
- Characterization using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, XRD, BET, SEM, and TEM.
Main Results:
- Synthesized Cu2O nanoparticles were successfully functionalized with plant extracts.
- Both functionalized nanoparticles exhibited mesoporous structures confirmed by BET analysis.
- Green extract functionalized nanoparticles showed a more uniform pore size distribution than orange extract functionalized ones.
- Preliminary assessment indicated potential for drug delivery, catalysis, and adsorption applications.
Conclusions:
- Sol-gel synthesized Cu2O nanoparticles can be effectively functionalized using plant extracts.
- The choice of plant extract influences the textural properties, specifically pore size distribution, of the functionalized nanoparticles.
- These functionalized Cu2O nanoparticles hold promise for various applications, with functionalization method impacting performance.
