Cu2O Nanoparticles as Nanocarriers and Its Antibacterial Efficacy

In this study, Cu₂O nanoparticles were synthesized using the sol-gel technique and subsequently functionalized with extracts from plants of the Rauvolfioideae subfamily and citrus fruits. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, XRD, BET, SEM, and TEM, were employed to evaluate the structural and surface properties of the synthesized nanoparticles. The results demonstrated that both functionalized Cu₂O nanoparticles exhibit mesoporous structures, as confirmed by nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms and the pore size distribution analysis. The green extract functionalized nanoparticles displayed a more uniform pore size distribution compared to those functionalized with the orange extract. The study underscores the potential of these functionalized Cu₂O nanoparticles for applications in drug delivery, catalysis, and adsorption processes, highlighting the influence of the functionalization method on their textural properties and performance in antibacterial efficacy.