Antibacterial, Anti‐Biofouling, and Antioxidant Prospects of Metal‐Based Nanomaterials

Abstract

Three metallic nanomaterials, i.e., iron, copper, and bimetallic iron-copper were easily synthesized using a wet-chemical method and were properly characterized. The materials were tested against two bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in order to evaluate their antibacterial activity, as well as their biofilm formation inhibition properties. The total inhibition of bacterial growth, at low mg/mL concentrations, implies the satisfactory antibacterial activity of the nanomaterials against bacteria. Between the two bacterial strains used, E. coli is more susceptible to the effect of the nanomaterials than S. aureus. However, the results for the respective biofilms are significantly different since S. aureus biofilm formation is more easily inhibited. There are differences in the way of action against the two different bacteria and diverse mechanisms of action are proposed to justify them. Furthermore, positive 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical tests demonstrated that the nanomaterials are free-radical scavengers while TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) tests evidenced their lipid oxidation inhibition properties, although at high concentration levels. Copper nanoparticles proved to be the most effective of the three materials tested, against DPPH radicals and lipid peroxidation followed by the Fe-Cu and lastly by the Fe nanoparticles. The intrinsic magnetic properties of iron-based materials can provide long-term benefits for antibacterial or anti-biofouling treatment in water purification systems as well as for antioxidant activity purposes.

Unveiling the role of novel biogenic functionalized CuFe hybrid nanocomposites in boosting anticancer, antimicrobial and biosorption activities

“…Analysis of variance showed that FCFNCs at 750 µg mL −1 caused significant inhibition ( P ˂ 0.05) of biofilm growth in S. aureus (90.6 ± 1.3%) and P. aeruginosa (76.11 ± 1.17%). In comparison, Chatzimitakos and coworkers 46 found that 100 mg/mL of CuFe nanohybrid corrupted the biofilm formation of E. coli and S. aureus by 12 and 49%, respectively, proofing the efficiency of our FCFNCs in minuscule amounts.…”

“…Remarkably, various microbial biomolecules could participate substantially in the reduction phase and chelating activity to transform metal ions into their NPs analogues, including NADH-dependent enzymes, such as cytochrome reductase, hydrogenases, nitrate reductase, dehydrogenases 4 , superoxide dismutase and catalase 46 . Actually, in the biological redox reaction, the enzymes shuttle electrons to the metal ions that were reduced to the NPs through sequential variation in their oxidation states.…”

The Unexplored Wound Healing Activity of Urtica dioica L. Extract: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study

“…DPPH free radical scavenging, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, metal chelating activity, reducing power and prevention of oxidative damage to proteins were examined following previously reported methods [42,51].…”

Performance of Metal-Based Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites for Water Decontamination

“…Silver nanoparticles have been reported to be applied to adsorb Cr(II) and Pb(II) as suspended free nanoparticles in the system [12]. Copper nanoparticles were used as antibiofouling, antioxidant and antibacterial agents for wastewater treatment [36]. Those nanoparticles showed efficiency in inactivation of pathogens, inhibition of lipid oxidation and biofilm formation and scavenging free radicals.…”