Eco-biocompatibility of chitosan coated biosynthesized copper oxide nanocomposite for enhanced industrial (Azo) dye removal from aqueous solution and antibacterial properties

Abstract

In the present study, the biogenic synthesis of an ecofriendly and non-toxic chitosan (CS) coated copper oxide NPs (CS-CuO nanocomposite) using Psidium guajava aqueous leaf extract. The biogenic synthesized CS-CuO nanocomposite was characterized by using UV-vis spectroscopy analysis (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FE-SEM-EDS), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The prepared CS-CuO nanocomposite was evaluated for antibacterial activity by agar well diffusion method as well as minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were assessed against both Gram-positive Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Gram-negative Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis with good inhibition effects on Gram-negative bacteria than the Gram-positive bacteria. The interaction of the CS-CuO nanocomposite with the bacterial membrane was visually observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and the live/dead cells were differentiated by treatment with acridine orange and ethidium bromide dyes.

Keywords: CS-CuO nanocomposite; Chitosan; Dye degradation; Photocatalytic activity and Antibacterial activity.