A rapid one-step synthesis of silver and copper coordinated chlorine functionalized fullerene nanoparticles with enhanced antibacterial activity

Abstract

Nanoparticle modification demonstrates a remarkable synergetic effect in combating bacteria, particularly resistant bacteria, enhancing their efficacy by simultaneously targeting multiple cellular pathways. This approach positions them as a potent solution against the growing challenge of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) strains. This research presents an investigation into the synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial evaluation of silver-coordinated chloro-fullerenes nanoparticles (Ag-C₆₀-Cl) and copper-coordinated chloro-fullerenes nanoparticles (Cu-C₆₀-Cl). Utilizing an innovative, rapid one-step synthesis approach, the nanoparticles were rigorously characterized using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (SEM-EDS), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. In conjunction with the analytical techniques, a computational approach was utilized to corroborate the findings from Raman spectroscopy as well as the surface potential of these nanoparticles. Moreover, the antibacterial activities of the synthesized nanoparticles were assessed against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These findings demonstrated that the synthesized Ag-C₆₀-Cl and Cu-C₆₀-Cl nanoparticles exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 3.9 μg mL⁻¹ and 125 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) quantification, catalase assay, and efflux pump inhibition results revealed promising broad-spectrum antibacterial effects.