In this work, a methodology of synthesis was designed to obtain ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in a controlled and reproducible manner. The nanoparticles obtained were characterized using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Also, we determined the antifungal capacity in vitro of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized, examining their action on Erythricium salmonicolor fungy causal of pink disease. To determine the effect of the quantity of zinc precursor used during ZnO NPs synthesis on the antifungal capacity, 0.1 and 0.15 M concentrations of zinc acetate were examined. To study the inactivation of the mycelial growth of the fungus, different concentrations of ZnO NPs of the two types of synthesized samples were used. The inhibitory effect on the growth of the fungus was determined by measuring the growth area as a function of time. The morphological change was observed with high-resolution optical microscopy (HROM), while TEM was used to observe changes in its ultrastructure. The results showed that a concentration of 9 mmol L -1 for the sample obtained from the 0.15 M and at 12 mmol L -1 for the 0.1 M system significantly inhibited growth of E. salmonicolor. In the HROM images a deformation was observed in the growth pattern: notable thinning of the fibers of the hyphae and a clumping tendency. The TEM images showed a liquefaction of the cytoplasmic content, making it less electron-dense, with the presence of a number of vacuoles and significant detachment of the cell wall.

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Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) of different sizes and morphology were synthesized. The variables analyzed were zinc precursor concentration, the nature of the synthesis solvent and the concentration of surfactant agent. The solids synthesized were characterized using IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Considering the nature of the synthesis process, a tentative model of the mechanism of formation of the ZnO-NPs was proposed. ZnO-NPs with spheroidal morphology were obtained with a 10 mM CTAB concentration and these were selected to study their toxicity. For this study, Mus musculus mice were therefore given an oral dose of 50 mg ZnO/kg body weight (b.v.). Biopsies obtained from the livers and kidneys of the mice studied were analyzed using TEM and atomic absorption. The biopsy of the liver of the mouse given a dose of ZnO-NPs showed evidence of steatosis. The atomic absorption results showed the accumulation of Zn in both the liver and the kidney of the mouse.

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