Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of antibacterial efficacy of zinc oxide nanoparticles

Objective: Objective of the study was to synthesize and characterize Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NP), and to evaluate their application on some bacterial strains.Methods: ZnO NP was synthesized by chemical methods. Then decomposed by using conventional heating process. The detailed characterization of the nanoparticles was performed using FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction analysis and XRF. From the analysis of XRD pattern, UV-VIS spectroscopy and XRF, the formation of nanoparticles was confirmed. Antibacterial assay of synthesized ZnO NP was carried out both in liquid and solid growth medium against a gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and a gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria using disc diffusion assay method. Effect of antibacterial activity was observed by zone of inhibition around the antibiotic discs of ZnO NP.Results: ZnO NP was characterized by the different spectral analysis of the synthesized product. ZnO NPs reveal good antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. Kinetic studies were conducted on growth bacteria by loading ZnO NP to S. aureus and E. coli with this concentration to study the kinetic of growth behavior which showed that NP produced toxicity on both bacteria and therefore the growth was inhibited.Conclusions: The inhibition of growth of the organisms by ZnO nanoparticles suggests that it could potentially be used as an effective antibacterial agent and as well can be used in the protection of agricultural and food safety. Future studies may be aimed at the further evaluation to establish the nanoparticles as potential antimicrobial agent.