Abstract
Polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPY) were synthesized by carbon dots (CDs) under UV irradiation and then sonicated together with zinc acetate and copper acetate to form the PANI-Zn@CuO and PPY-Zn@Cu composites. The former consisted of agglomerated spherical particles with diameters of 1–5 µm, whereas the latter displayed irregular stick shapes with similar diameters. The bacterial potency of the composites against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was enhanced remarkably with Zn doping in the CuO matrix, designated as Zn0.11Cu0.89O, at 0.144 mg/mL. The cell death was mainly attributed to the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that would severely damage DNA, proteins, and lipids. Bacteria could adhere to neutral surfaces of the composites by van der Waals attractive forces. The binding event disrupted the native surface charge of bacterial cells to induce cell lysis and result in eventual cell death.
Highlights
Metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs), ZnO and CuO, have emerged as potential antimicrobial agents to overcome the rising global issue of antimicrobial resistance against conventional antibiotics
Copper is a well-known antimicrobial agent, and its action against bacteria is related to Fenton type reactions [3,4,5]
This study aims to synthesize and evaluate the antibacterial activities of two polymers decorated with Zn-doped CuO (Zn@CuO) microparticles
Summary
Metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs), ZnO and CuO, have emerged as potential antimicrobial agents to overcome the rising global issue of antimicrobial resistance against conventional antibiotics. Their appealing features include durability and high stability with low mammalian cell toxicity, compared with organic counterparts. ZnO reduces oxygen to water, and this reaction involves the release of three intermediate reactive oxygen species (ROS): superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical [1,2]. Such species play an essential role in eradicating both Gram-negative and.
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