Comparative study of green-synthesised Ag/CuO nanocomposites: antimicrobial activity and human fibroblast cytotoxicity

Abstract This study reports the green synthesis of silver–copper oxide nanocomposites (Ag/CuO NCs) using Ocimum sanctum leaf extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The nanocomposites were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, which showed SPR peaks for Ag and CuO nanocomposites, while FTIR confirmed the presence of proteins, flavonoids, and phenols responsible for stabilization. XRD analysis verified the crystalline structure, and SEM revealed distinct morphology. EDX confirmed the elemental composition of Ag, Cu, and O, with no impurities. Biologically, the Ag/CuO NCs demonstrated strong antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones up to 36.1 ± 1.1 mm for Staphylococcus aureus and 27.3 ± 0.5 mm for Candida albicans. Cytocompatibility assays using human fibroblast cells showed over 90% viability at 250 µg/mL, with an IC50 of 430.6 µg/mL, indicating acceptable biocompatibility. These findings highlight the potential of green-synthesized Ag/CuO NCs as effective antimicrobial agents with promising applications in wound healing and other biomedical fields.