Copper Nanoparticles: Easily Accessible Nano-Weapons Against the Escalating Antibiotic Resistance

Summary

Nanotechnology is an ancient conception which was originally coined by Richard Feynman in 1959 while lecturing the topic “There's plenty of room at the bottom” at the California Institute of Technology. The name nanotechnology originated from a Greek word “dwarf” meaning small and is often defined as a collective art of science and technology of small things. At nanoscale dimensions, there is a behavioural change in the particles and they function exceptionally well. For example, gold at nanoscale dimensions turns out to be a good catalyst for fuel cells and semiconductors. Nanotechnology manipulates things at their molecular or atomic level with a positive attempt of creating unique materials with huge potential. Nanotechnology also has an enormous potential in creating smaller, inexpensive and faster devices with improved performance at nanoscale dimensions. It changes the properties of a material in such a way that the material behaves more efficiently at a nanoscale dimension compared to the same material at a large scale. Most of the vital metabolic processes in living beings occur at the nanoscale range and one such example is haemoglobin, which helps to carry oxygen across the bloodstream is approximately 5 nanometers in diameter.

In recent years, nanoparticles are getting more attention because of their diverse applications in the biomedical field including targeted drug delivery, hyperthermia, photoablation therapy, bioimaging and biosensors. Nanoparticles are also proving a great alternative to antibiotics in combating the deadly bacterial infections. Copper nanoparticles, in particular, are being utilized as antimicrobial agents as well as their interaction with other particles helps to improve the antimicrobial efficacy. Compared to other metallic nanoparticles, copper nanoparticles are highly reactive and their small size allow them to be used in different areas. When exposed to air, copper nanoparticles form copper oxide and to prevent this oxidation, silica and carbon are utilized to coat copper nanoparticles. Metallic copper nanoparticles have been used in place of silver nanoparticles and other noble metals as anti-infective agents and also utilized in in water purification.