Multiscale Metal Oxide Particles to Enhance Photocatalytic Antimicrobial Activity against Escherichia coli and M13 Bacteriophage under Dual Ultraviolet Irradiation

Abstract

Antimicrobial activity of multiscale metal oxide (MO) particles against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and M13 bacteriophage (phage) was investigated under dual ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Zinc oxide (ZnO), magnesium oxide (MgO), cuprous oxide (Cu2O), and cupric oxide (CuO) were selected as photocatalytic antimicrobials in MO particles. Physicochemical properties including morphology, particle size/particle size distribution, atomic composition, crystallinity, and porosity were evaluated. Under UV-A and UV-C irradiation with differential UV-C intensities, the antimicrobial activity of MO particles was monitored in E. coli and phage. MO particles had nano-, micro- and nano- to microscale sizes with irregular shapes, composed of atoms as ratios of chemical formulae and presented crystallinity as pure materials. They had wide-range specific surface area levels of 0.40–46.34 m2/g. MO particles themselves showed antibacterial activity against E. coli, which was the highest among the ZnO particles. However, no viral inactivation by MO particles occurred in phage. Under dual UV irradiation, multiscale ZnO and CuO particles had superior antimicrobial activities against E. coli and phage, as mixtures of nano- and microparticles for enhanced photocatalytic antimicrobials. The results showed that the dual UV-multiscale MO particle hybrids exhibit enhanced antibiotic potentials. It can also be applied as a next-generation antibiotic tool in industrial and clinical fields.

Antibacterial Activity of Solvothermal Obtained ZnO Nanoparticles with Different Morphology and Photocatalytic Activity against a Dye Mixture: Methylene Blue, Rhodamine B and Methyl Orange

“…Therefore, we confirm that the antibacterial activity of ZnO depends on the size and shape of the nanoparticles. The smaller nanoparticles, e.g., the ZnO_B, are more potent, as expected, when compared with the larger ones [ 71 ].…”

“…There are two antimicrobial mechanisms for ZnO nanoparticles. One is based on ROS production under light irradiation, and the second one is related to the size and morphology of the nanoparticles (larger ones being less active) [ 71 , 72 ]. We performed the antibacterial assay with no light irradiation.…”

Dataset for hierarchical tetramodal-porous architecture of zinc oxide nanoparticles microfluidically synthesized via dual-step nanofabrication

“…After 60 min incubation in the dark, the sample absorbance levels were measured at 464 nm. After sorption equilibria, the samples were irradiated using a dual UV lamp of UV-A and UV-C in a CBD connected to an electronic controller at 40 W⋅m − 2 [9] . The UV spectra of the lamp were acquired using a spectrometer (Jaz System, Ocean Optics, Inc., Orlando, FL, USA) with software (Spectra Suite, Ocean Optics, Inc.).…”

Strong anti-viral nano biocide based on Ag/ZnO modified by amodiaquine as an antibacterial and antiviral composite

“…Several studies have reported the harmful effects of nanoparticles on living cells, but no toxic effects on eukaryotic cells have been reported for low concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles 60 . ZnO nanoparticles have been studied for the development of next-generation nano-antibiotics against pathogenic microorganisms to combat multidrug resistance 61 – 63 . Zinc oxide nanoparticles have a wide range of antimicrobial activity against microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and bacteriophage M13 64 .…”