Antibacterial Behaviour of Cu2O Nanoparticles Against Escherichia coli; Reactivity of Fehling's Solution on Manihot esculenta Leaf Extract

We report a simple, low cost and eco-friendly synthesis of Cu2O nanoparticles by reduction of Fehling's solution using Manihot esculenta leaf extract containing reducing sugars which act as reducing agent. The purification process of the Cu2O product does not require expensive methods, since a solid product is obtained from a reaction in liquid phase. The result indicates that aldehyde group present in reducing sugars plays excellent role in the formation of cuprous oxide nanoparticles in the solution. The antibacterial properties of Cu2O nanoparticles were investigated against Escherichia coli as a model for Gram-negative bacteria. Bacteriological tests were performed in solid agar plates and in liquid systems supplemented with different concentrations of nano sized Cu2O nanoparticles. These particles were shown to be an effective bactericide. The resulting Cu2O nanoparticles were characterized by UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).