Synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using Aloe vera leaf extract and their antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

The global interest in nanotechnology has significantly increased in recent years as a necessity to create new and natural antibacterial agents required in the management of superbug pathogens. The present study characterized the green-synthesized copper nanoparticles derived from Aloe vera leaf extract and determined their antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae. The green synthesized copper oxide nanoparticle (CuO NPs) from the aqueous extract of Aloe vera leaves were characterized using ultra violet (UV)-visible spectra, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and then assayed for antibacterial activity. The study revealed that green synthesized CuO NPs contained several organic functional groups of phytochemicals with a wave by CuO NPs plasmon resonance. CuO NPs exhibited a plate-like hexagonal structure with a length of approximately 500 nm. The CuO NPs exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity that was concentration-dependent, exhibited lower MIC and MBC values on MRSA strains (31.25–62.5 μg/mL and 125 μg/mL) than against MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae strains (62.5 μg/mL and 500 μg/mL) respectively. The CuO NPs synthesized from Aloe vera had strong bactericidal activity, offering a promising alternative strategy in the global effort to combat multidrug resistant bacterial infection. There is a need to conduct in vivo efficacy of the CuO NPs to validate their safety for human use.