Ecofriendly synthesis and antibacterial assessment of silver and copper nanoparticles using Solanum incanum L. extracts

Abstract This study focused on the green synthesis of silver (AgNPs) and copper (CuNPs) nanoparticles using Solanum incanum leaf extract as a medicinal plant to assess their antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The characterization of the NPs was conducted using FT-IR, UV-visible spectroscopy, and XRD, confirming successful synthesis with average particle sizes of 23.28 nm and 28.66 nm for AgNPs and CuNPs, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the NPs was evaluated using the disc-diffusion method, with comparative analyses against the crude plant extracts and standard antibiotics. Both formulations of NPs demonstrated significant antibacterial activity. The CuNPs showed superior inhibition against E. coli (19 mm at 100 mg/mL), while the AgNPs exhibited enhanced activity against S. aureus (20 mm at 100 mg/mL). In contrast, the crude extract displayed moderate inhibition against S. aureus but was ineffective against E. coli. These findings underscore the potential of Solanum incanum-mediated AgNPs and CuNPs as eco-friendly antimicrobial agents. This dual-metal nanoparticle synthesis using a single plant source presents a novel, sustainable platform for developing targeted antibacterial agents. The work also demonstrates the underexploited potential of Solanum incanum in nanobiotechnology and broad-spectrum antimicrobial innovation. Further studies are recommended to elucidate their mechanisms of action and explore biomedical applications. Graphical abstract