Antibacterial Efficacy of Cufe2o4-Ag@PANI Nanocomposite on Gram- Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria

This study reports the green synthesis of a CuFe₂O₄-Ag@PANI nanocomposite using floral extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent, offering an eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical synthesis. The structural, morphological, and compositional features of the synthesized nanocomposite were thoroughly characterized using FTIR, XRD, FESEM, TEM, and EDX techniques, confirming the formation of well-dispersed, crystalline nanoparticles with spherical morphology and an average size of ~20 nm. Antibacterial efficacy was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli through zone of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and bacteriostatic rate analysis. The nanocomposite exhibited superior antibacterial activity compared to bare CuFe₂O₄, with inhibition zones of 27 mm for S. aureus and 24 mm for E. coli, and MIC values of 62.5 µg/mL and 75 µg/mL, respectively. Bacteriostatic rate analysis showed enhanced bacterial growth inhibition (60.9% for E. coli and 50.5% for S. aureus), confirming the synergistic role of Ag and PANI in improving bactericidal performance. The proposed mechanism involves reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and membrane disruption. These findings highlight the potential of CuFe₂O₄-Ag@PANI as a sustainable and effective antibacterial agent for biomedical and environmental applications.