Ag/CuO nanoparticles prepared from a novel trinuclear compound [Cu(Imdz)4(Ag(CN)2)2] (Imdz = imidazole) by a pyrolysis display excellent antimicrobial activity

One copper and two silver containing one hetero tri-nuclear precursor compound [Cu(Imdz)(4)(Ag(CN)(2))(2)] (1) (Imdz = Imidazole) has been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Simple pyrolysis of the complex at 550 degrees C for 4 h afforded Ag/CuO nanoparticles (NPs). The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Xray powder diffraction (XRPD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS). Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) have been employed as model microbial species to study the anti-microbial activity of the synthesized NPs. The NPs showed potent anti-microbial activity evidenced from the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) values. Very high level of cell uptake and then generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the origin of such strong antimicrobial activity for the NPs. However, the cytotoxicity level of the NPs towards normal human cell is very low. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.