Synergistic catalytic and antibacterial activity, along with <i>in silico</i> molecular docking of bimetallic silver-copper-doped PVP-Mg(OH) ₂ nanostructures

Industrial wastewater treatment is a critical challenge requiring innovative solutions to address global water scarcity. In this work, magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH)₂ nanostructures (NSs) were successfully synthesized <i>via</i> a cost-effective and sustainable co-precipitation approach, doped with 3 wt% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and varying amounts (2 and 4 wt%) of silver-copper (Ag-Cu). The main purpose of this research was to investigate the ternary system's ability in dye degradation and its antibacterial properties. PVP, as a capping agent, regulates the growth of the NSs and provides stability. The incorporation of Ag-Cu minimizes agglomeration and promotes the formation of a network comprising PVP-capped NSs along with Ag-Cu nanoparticles (NPs). This interconnected network facilitates charge transport, thereby enhancing the overall catalytic performance. The study revealed that 4 wt% Ag-Cu/PVP-Mg(OH)₂ significantly degrades (99.68%) rhodamine B (RhB) in acidic medium as opposed to alkaline and neutral pH levels, and it achieves a maximum inhibition zone of 7.95 ± 0.02 mm against MDR <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>). The prospective inhibitory mechanism of the synthesized NSs on the DNA gyrase enzyme of <i>S. aureus</i> was explored by molecular docking.