Anand Kumar Srivastava and Dwivedi KN
Nanoparticles, compared to bulk materials, exhibit improved characteristics due to their size, distribution and morphology and are widely used in numerous scientific fields. Among metallic nanoparticles, Copper Nanoparticles (CuNPs) are very important mainly due to their physiochemical and antimicrobial properties which help in therapies, molecular diagnostics and in devices used for medical procedures. An eco-friendly method has been reported for the synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles (CuNPs) using extract of Nerium odorum Soland plant leaf that acts as a reducing agent, and it is non-toxic and cheap. UV-Visible spectrophotometer analysis has confirmed the formation of CuNPs by showing a typical resonance (SPR) at about 580-610 nm which is specific for CuNPs. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using Particle Size Analysis (139.2 nm), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscope. These results confirm the formation of CuNPs. Since fungal infection is a common problem so the antifungal activity of CuNPs has been checked against Candida albicans. Zone of inhibition has been observed. So these nanoparticles formulated using plant extracts have the potential to serve as possible eco-friendly alternatives to chemical and physical methods for fungal infections.
