Preparation and biophysical characterisation of Ag-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles

In the present study, seedless synthesis of Ag-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) was carried out using Soxhlet-assisted sequentially extracted phytochemicals from Terminalia chebula ripened fruit (TCRF). The objective of the present study is evaluating the effect of sequentially extracted phytochemicals on the synthesis and properties of Ag-Cu BMNPs. The key parameters used in this study are solvent-based phytochemical extraction and photo-induced green synthesis of BMNPs. Preliminary phytochemical screening of TCRF revealed the presence of polyphenols, which are significant in metal ion reduction. Evaluation of Ag-Cu optical properties was confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) techniques revealed that the BMNPs are made of round and irregularly shaped particles that are smaller than 100 nm. The comparative antimicrobial activities of TCRF extracts and TCRFE Ag-Cu BMNPs against bacteria (-ve, +ve) and fungi were found, and both TCRFEs and TCRFE BMNPs are effective against G-ve bacteria and fungi. An effective in vitro antioxidant property of both TCRFEs and TCRFE Ag-Cu BMNPs using DPPH free radical scavenging activity, a ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay, and ABTS cationic radical scavenging activity was observed. As a result, the TCRFE Ag-Cu BMNPs showed efficient antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.