Evaluating structural properties and antibacterial activity of MgxCu1-xO nanoparticles

The structural and antibacterial properties of MgxCu1−xO nanoparticles were investigated, focusing on their potential for biomedical applications. The nanoparticles were synthesized using a sol-gel method with citric acid as a chelating agent, followed by calcination at 500 °C. Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed a cubic phase with an average crystallite size of 15 nm. Optical properties were analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, revealing a direct bandgap energy (Eg) of 3.15 eV. Antibacterial efficacy was evaluated through the agar diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram-positive bacterium. The nanoparticles exhibited significant antibacterial activity, with a zone of inhibition measuring 20 mm. These findings underscore the multifunctional potential of MgxCu1−xO nanoparticles for antimicrobial applications and pave the way for further exploration of their biomedical uses.