Affiliation:
1. Grupo de Investigación de Energías Alternativas y Ambiente, Facultad de Ciencias, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Panamericana Sur Km 1 ½, Chimborazo, EC060155; Ecuador
2. Independent Researchers, Riobamba, 060104, Ecuador.
Abstract
Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) were synthesized by an adaptation of the chemical reduction method, using cupric sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O) and sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as a reducing agent, to combat bacterial resistance that leads to the proliferation of hospital infections caused by the bacterium Serratia marcescens through the potentiation of 70% ethyl alcohol (EA70) as a bactericidal agent through the addition of CuNPs. Characterization was performed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-visible spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), such that the CuNPs reached a diameter of 20-50 nm. The bactericidal activity was performed by inoculating the bacterium in Petri dishes with TM MEDIA Mueller Hinton agar, and its effectiveness was verified with susceptibility testing discs. The analysis was conducted at concentrations of 100, 300 and 500 mg/L; the current results have demonstrated that the lowest concentration shows a better inhibition halo, with a maximum of 13 mm, thus observing the synergism between both substances.