Deciphering the synergy of eudragit and polyethylene glycol supported cobalt oxide for catalytic, electrocatalytic and antibacterial activity: Computational insights

To address global environmental pollution caused by toxic cationic and anionic dyes, along with escalating antibiotic resistance, development of multifunctional nanomaterials is essential. Cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) was synthesized via co-precipitation route and modified with 3 wt% of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and varying concentrations of (2 and 4 wt%) of eudragit (Eud). This study highlighted improved catalytic, electrocatalytic and antibacterial attributes of Co₃O₄ upon incorporation of PEG and Eud as capping agents to facilitate electron transport and surface activation. Structural, elemental, optical, and morphological analysis of Co₃O₄, PEG-Co₃O₄, and (2, 4 wt%) Eud/PEG-Co₃O₄ was examined using various characterization techniques. In the presence of reducing agent, optimized sample (4 wt% Eud/PEG-Co₃O₄) epitomized a significant 95.80% degradation efficiency of methyl orange under acidic media. Furthermore, optimized catalyst indicated rapid kinetics characterized by low overpotential (214 mV) and reduced Tafel slope (45 mV dec⁻¹). Concurrently, antibacterial efficacy of optimized sample against multidrug resistant Escherichia coli (MDR E. coli ), revealed a significant inhibition zone of 6.75 ± 0.77 mm ( P < 0.05 ). Optimized sample exhibits exceptional antibacterial properties and efficiently inhibits dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and DNA gyrase in E. coli , as validated by molecular docking investigations.