Nanocomposite TiO2/ZnO coated by copper (II) complex of di-Schiff bases with biological activity evaluation

Treatment of 2-((4-hydroxybenzylidene)amino)phenol (HLAm) with Cu(II) ion of 2: 1 stoichiometric ratios, respectively, produced copper (II) di-Schiff base complex (Cu(LAm)2). HLAm and Cu(LAm)2 were characterized by using different spectroscopic tools (UV-Vis., IR, and mass spectra), and by CHN percentage analyses (EA). Cu (LAm)2 was appended on the core/shell of zinc oxide and titanium oxide (TiO2/ZnO nanostructured species) within the deprotonated p-hydroxy group of the coordinated ligand. Various analytical tools were demonstrated to distinguish the internal structure and morphological features of the immobilized Cu-complex on TiO2/ZnO (Cu (LAm)2@TiO2/ZnO), as nanocomposite species using XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, IR and EDS spectra, furthermore with thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). TiO2 was prepared from natural sources (Saussurea costus). For the therapeutic interest, the antimicrobial action of HLAm, Cu(LAm)2, TiO2/ZnO, Cu(LAm)2, and Cu(LAm)2@TiO2/ ZnO against the growth of some common bacteria and fungi were examined. Cu(LAm)2 and Cu(LAm)2@TiO2/ ZnO displayed the highest action for the inhibition of their growth. The higher action of Cu(LAm)2 and Cu (LAm)2@TiO2/ZnO over the free ligand HLAm and TiO2/ZnO core/shell was built on the behavior of Cu2+ ion in Schiff base coordination compound (Tweedy's chelation effect). Their reactivity with Genomic DNA was estimated within electrophoresis. As a biomedical candidate, Cu(LAm)2 and the immobilized Cu(LAm)2 on TiO2/ ZnO nanoparticles could undergo further medicinal investigations according to the antimicrobial observations.