Excellent antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities of Fe–SnO₂ nanoparticles as promising antiseptics and disinfectants

Abstract

In recent years, nosocomial infections and antibiotic resistance are major public health problems. Nanotechnology should open new avenues to treat and prevent diseases. In this research work, iron-doped tin dioxide (Fe-SnO2) nanoparticles have been synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the formation of nanocrystalline SnO2 single phase with Fe favoring grain growth, the crystallite size increases from 13 up to 29 nm. FT-infrared spectroscopy analysis shows the presence of peaks characteristic of the SnO2 phase. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy analysis indicates Fe doping induces red-shift of SnO2 bandgap. Morphological observations by scanning electron microscopy reveal randomly arranged irregular-sized compact grains with sponge-like microstructure. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis (EDX) confirms the purity of Fe-doped SnO2. Bacteria produce siderophores capable of capturing iron, a necessary nutrient. For this reason, SnO2 has been doped particularly with Fe to facilitate the entry of nanoparticles into the bacterial cell and improve its antibacterial activity. Fe-SnO2 nanoparticles exhibit significant antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities against all tested microorganisms; it is found that biofilm eradication of the tested strains is higher than 90%. The fabricated Fe–SnO2 nanopowders have potential as antiseptics and disinfectants that will eliminate, kill, or inactivate microorganisms usually found on inert surfaces such as soil, walls, medical-surgical equipment, to prevent nosocomial infections in hospitals.

Effect of Fe Doping on Photocatalytic Dye-Degradation and Antibacterial Activity of SnO2 Nanoparticles

“…The mechanism involved in the antibacterial activity of Fe-SnO 2 NPs is assumed to be influenced by the generated reactive oxygen species, viz., H 2 O 2 , superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals, which will penetrate through the bacterial cell membrane, damage DNA, and protein, which will finally inhibit bacterial growth. For Fe-SnO 2 NPs, the increased antibacterial action can be attributed to their smaller particle size, as evidenced by XRD and FESEM analysis, which leads to the generation of a large number of reactive oxygen species on the surface of bacterial cells, resulting in intracellular component leakage and cell death [32, 33]. To check the reliability of the obtained results, a triplicate of the experiment is carried out.…”

Doped Tin Dioxide (d-SnO2) and Its Nanostructures: Review of the Theoretical Aspects, Photocatalytic and Biomedical Applications

“…Obeizi et al [167] reported the antifungal action of Fe-doped SnO 2 NPs against the Candida albicans strain. The microbial activity was checked by agar well diffusion method and after an incubation period of 24 h at 27 • C a ZOI of 23.59 ± 0.22 mm and an MIC of 1 µg mL −1 were observed for the SnO 2 NPs doped with Fe against a ZOI 15.68 ± 0.1 mm for the control sample (gentamicin).…”