Biosynthesis of zinc-copper mixed metal oxide nanoparticles using button-lac extract: A novel approach to combat antimicrobial resistance.

The excessive consumption of antimicrobial agents, has led to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is recognized as global public health challenge by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This requires the pursuit of breakthrough technologies that can help to eradicate pathogens and inhibit the transmission of diseases. Mixed metal oxide nanoparticles (MMONPs) exhibit multifunctionality due to their remarkable physicochemical properties and utility across various applications. This research involved the synthesis of zinc-copper mixed metal oxide nanoparticles (ZC-(O)NPs) via a green synthesis route utilizing Button-lac extract. The synthesized NPs were analyzed using various analytical techniques. From the XRD results, it was found that the synthesized NPs possess a hexagonal wurtzite structure with an average size of 21.7 and 18.16 nm for ZC-(O) NPs and ZCBL-(O) NPs, respectively. The FTIR analysis revealed the presence of M - O linkage bands at 496 cm-1 and 474 cm-1 for ZC-(O) NPs and ZCBL-(O) NPs, respectively. The antibacterial efficacy of the synthesized NPs was assessed towards the bacterial species Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus). The experimental findings reveal a significant formation of a zone of inhibition in the ZCBL-(O) NPs in comparison to ZC-(O) NPs, measuring approximately 9.1 mm ± 0.21 mm in diameter for S. aureus and 11.3 mm ± 0.20 mm for E. coli. This study demonstrates that BL extract can facilitate a green synthesis method for producing ZC-(O) NPs, which may serve as alternatives to antibiotics and a means to eradicate drug-resistant microorganisms in the future.