Facile Synthesis and Characterization of Cupric Oxide Loaded 2D Structure Graphitic Carbon Nitride (<i>g</i>-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) Nanocomposite: In Vitro Anti-Bacterial and Fungal Interaction Studies

oleh: Rajendran Lakshmi Priya, Bheeranna Kariyanna, Sengodan Karthi, Raja Sudhakaran, Sundaram Ganesh Babu, Radhakrishnan Vidya

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-02-01

Deskripsi

The active and inexpensive catalyst cupric oxide (CuO) loaded foliar fertilizer of graphitic carbon nitride (<i>g</i>-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) is investigated for biological applications due to its low cost and easy synthesis. The synthesized CuO NPs, bulk g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>, exfoliated <i>g</i>-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>, and different weight percentages of 30 wt%, 40 wt%, 50 wt%, 60 wt%, and 70 wt% CuO-loaded <i>g</i>-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> are characterized using different analytical techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The nanocomposite of CuO NPs loaded <i>g</i>-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> exhibits antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Streptococcus pyogenes</i>) and Gram-negative bacteria (<i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>). The 20 μg/mL of 70 wt% CuO/<i>g</i>-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> nanocomposite showed an efficiency of 98% for Gram-positive bacteria, 80% for <i>E. Coli</i>, and 85% for <i>P. aeruginosa</i>. In the same way, since the 70 wt% CuO/<i>g</i>-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> nanocomposite showed the best results for antibacterial activity, the same compound was evaluated for anti-fungal activity. For this purpose, the fungi <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> and <i>Trichoderma viride</i> were used. The anti-fungal activity experiments were not conducted in the presence of sunlight, and no appreciable fungal inhibition was observed. As per the literature, the presence of the catalyst <i>g</i>-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>, without an external light source, reduces the fungal inhibition performance. Hence, in the future, some modifications in the experimental conditions should be considered to improve the anti-fungal activity.