Catalytic and antimicrobial activities of cucumber leaf extract-based organic@inorganic hybrid nanoflowers through Fenton-like reaction

Abstract

For the synthesis of organic@inorganic hybrid nanoflowers (hNFS), instead of expensive biomolecules such as DNA, enzyme, and protein, the Cucumis sativus (cucumber) leaf extract was used as an organic component in this study. In the PBS buffer with different pH (5, 7.4, and 9), hNFs were synthesized using extract with different volumes, but these parameters (concentration and pH) significantly affected the morphological characteristics of hNFs. Morphologies, elemental compositions, and organic groups that play key role in the synthesis of hNFs were detailed using FE-SEM, EDX, and FT-IR analyses, respectively. hNFs with ideal flower morphology (synthesized at pH 7.4 with 1 ml extract) showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains. Antimicrobial activity against strains and peroxidase-like activity against guaiacol of hNFs are explained by Fenton mechanisms.