Synthesis, characterization and biological activities of copper nanoparticles

Nanotechnology is the most advanced research area in the present era. Copper nanoparticles displayed a significant role in many biological fields. The aim of the present study is to synthesize, characterize and study the biological activities of copper nanoparticles. Copper nanoparticles were produced from copper nitrate by chemical reduction method using isopropyl alcohol and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Synthesized particles were characterized by fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis. Spherical particles were produced with size range 5-13 nm. Antimicrobial activities of both copper nanoparticles and copper nitrate precursor were tested against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Penicillium expansum, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Both copper nanoparticles and copper nitrate precursor showed higher antibacterial activities than antifungal activities. Copper nanoparticles and copper nitrate precursor showed antioxidant activity relatively close to each other, with efficient antioxidant activity reached to 95.42% at 500 µg/ml of copper nanoparticles. Copper nanoparticles revealed higher significant cytotoxic effects than copper nitrate precursor. Production of copper nanoparticles by using chemical reduction method was simple, unexpensive and fast. Copper nanoparticles exhibited significant biological activities.