Magnesium-driven metal displacement synthesis of biologically active copper and silver nanoparticles

The eco-friendly and scalable metal displacement technique was used to synthesize silver and copper nanoparticles (CuNPs and AgNPs). Tartaric acid was used as the complexing and stabilizing agent, and magnesium scrap was used as the sacrificial reductant. The reaction took place in an aqueous solution under mild conditions, and no hazardous reducing agents were used. The biological activities of the as-synthesized nanoparticles, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and in vitro cytotoxic activities, were evaluated. Both CuNPs and AgNPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungi. The antioxidative properties of AgNPs were studied by measuring their scavenging capacity towards DPPH and nitric oxide radicals. In addition, antiproliferative effects were determined using the MTT assay method carried out on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells that had reduced cell viability. Therefore, the present work clearly demonstrated that magnesium-driven metal displacement for synthesizing copper and silver nanoparticle preparations with measurable in vitro biological activity.