Hydrothermally synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles: Rietveld analysis and antimicrobial studies

The increasing threat of multi-drug-resistant microbial infections demands substitute antimicrobial agents. Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) have emerged as promising alternatives. The primary objective of this study was to synthesize CuO NPs by hydrothermal method, characterize their physicochemical properties, and evaluate their efficacy against clinically relevant multi-drug-resistant microbes. Additionally, Rietveld analysis elucidated the structural characteristics of the synthesized CuO NPs. CuO NPs synthesized via a hydrothermal approach were subjected to a variety of characterization techniques. XRD confirmed the monoclinic structure of synthesized CuO NPs. FTIR was employed to identify functional groups present in the CuO samples. FESEM images reveal the nanostructured morphology of CuO samples. TEM analysis provided insight into the size distribution of CuO NPs. The antimicrobial efficacy of CuO NPs was assessed using the disc diffusion test. The antimicrobial activity was carried out against a range of detrimental pathogens, including gram-negative, gram-positive, and fungi. This study emphasizes the impact of reaction temperature on antimicrobial activity, offering a sustainable approach to antimicrobial applications.