The present study aimed to synthesize suggested Cu-Ag Bimetallic (NPs) as antimicrobial agents for biomedical applications, using two-stages Nd: YAG laser ablation (maximum energy 800 mJ, 900 pulses, 1064 nm, 9 ns, 1 Hz) in dimethylformamide (DMF )solvent. The synthesized nanoparticles were further evaluated by molecular docking to investigate their potential inhibitory effects against bacterial targets. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized using (UV-Vis spectroscopy), Xray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Zeta Potential (ZP). TEM analysis demonstrated semi-spherical nanostructures with average particle sizes of 25.5 nm for (AgNPs), 10.8 nm for (CuNPs), and 15 nm for suggested Cu-Ag Bimetallic NPs. The antimicrobial effect of different concentrations of the prepared NPs was tested on two types of bacteria; a gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a gram-positive (Streptococcus mutans). At (100<InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(\:)\:\mu\:g/mL\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation> concentration for AgNPs, CuNPs and Cu@AgNPs exhibited inhibition zones of (21.04 ± 0.10 mm, 20.07 ± 0.10 mm and 23.00 ± 0.10 mm) for (P. aeruginosa) bacteria and (31.04 ± 0.12 mm, 24.07 ± 0.12 mm and 32.21 ± 0.11 mm) for (S. mutans) bacteria respectively. The results indicate that suggested Cu-Ag BimetallicNPs exhibit enhanced antibacterial activity compared with monometallic Ag and Cu nanoparticles. Furthermore, biofilm inhibition assays demonstrated a higher capacity of Cu@Ag nanoparticles to suppress bacterial growth relative to the individual nanoparticle. Molecular docking was employed to evaluate the antibacterial potential of Cu, Ag, and core–shell Cu@Ag nanoparticles against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PDB ID: 1IX1) and Streptococcus mutans (PDB ID: 3BJV). The copper-silver (Cu and Ag) monometallic nanoparticles exhibited moderate binding energies to their target proteins in bacteria. The binding energies to Pseudomonas aeruginosa ranged from − 5.44 to − 6.5 kcal/mol. Cu-Ag Bimetallic NPs exhibited higher binding energy (− 8.50 kcal/mol) with the same bacteria, indicating a stronger and more specific interaction within the binding site. Coordination interactions between silver and amino acid residues (ASN101, ASP103, and TYR147), along with π-donor interactions between copper and TYR147, demonstrate a genuine and stable chemical bond. For Streptococcus mutans, copper and silver particles exhibited relatively similar binding behavior with low binding energies.

Combining Copper and Silver: Synthesis of Cu-Ag Bimetallic with Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity for Biomedical Applications

期刊论文
发表日期：

2026年5月14日

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Milad N. A. Alghurabi,
Tahseen H. Mubarak,
Abdulhadi Kadhim Judran,
Buthenia A. Hasoon,
Kareem H. Jawad

摘要

The present study aimed to synthesize suggested Cu-Ag Bimetallic (NPs) as antimicrobial agents for biomedical applications, using two-stages Nd: YAG laser ablation (maximum energy 800 mJ, 900 pulses, 1064 nm, 9 ns, 1 Hz) in dimethylformamide (DMF )solvent. The synthesized nanoparticles were further evaluated by molecular docking to investigate their potential inhibitory effects against bacterial targets. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized using (UV-Vis spectroscopy), Xray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Zeta Potential (ZP). TEM analysis demonstrated semi-spherical nanostructures with average particle sizes of 25.5 nm for (AgNPs), 10.8 nm for (CuNPs), and 15 nm for suggested Cu-Ag Bimetallic NPs. The antimicrobial effect of different concentrations of the prepared NPs was tested on two types of bacteria; a gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a gram-positive (Streptococcus mutans). At (100 \(\:)\:\mu\:g/mL\) concentration for AgNPs, CuNPs and Cu@AgNPs exhibited inhibition zones of (21.04 ± 0.10 mm, 20.07 ± 0.10 mm and 23.00 ± 0.10 mm) for (P. aeruginosa) bacteria and (31.04 ± 0.12 mm, 24.07 ± 0.12 mm and 32.21 ± 0.11 mm) for (S. mutans) bacteria respectively. The results indicate that suggested Cu-Ag BimetallicNPs exhibit enhanced antibacterial activity compared with monometallic Ag and Cu nanoparticles. Furthermore, biofilm inhibition assays demonstrated a higher capacity of Cu@Ag nanoparticles to suppress bacterial growth relative to the individual nanoparticle. Molecular docking was employed to evaluate the antibacterial potential of Cu, Ag, and core–shell Cu@Ag nanoparticles against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PDB ID: 1IX1) and Streptococcus mutans (PDB ID: 3BJV). The copper-silver (Cu and Ag) monometallic nanoparticles exhibited moderate binding energies to their target proteins in bacteria. The binding energies to Pseudomonas aeruginosa ranged from − 5.44 to − 6.5 kcal/mol. Cu-Ag Bimetallic NPs exhibited higher binding energy (− 8.50 kcal/mol) with the same bacteria, indicating a stronger and more specific interaction within the binding site. Coordination interactions between silver and amino acid residues (ASN101, ASP103, and TYR147), along with π-donor interactions between copper and TYR147, demonstrate a genuine and stable chemical bond. For Streptococcus mutans, copper and silver particles exhibited relatively similar binding behavior with low binding energies.