Antiviral and antibacterial activities of yttria-stabilized zirconia

Abstract

Antiviral and antibacterial activities of yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) powder were evaluated against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, bacteriophage Qβ, and bacteriophage Φ6 using ISO procedures. For comparison, the same evaluation was also conducted using Y2O3 and ZrO2 powders. Against all these bacteria and viruses, YSZ exhibited antibacterial and antiviral activities, but the extent of its activity differed depending on the bacteria and virus. Those differences in activity might be attributable to electrostatic interactions between the YSZ surface or ions and bacteria and viruses, the degree of adsorption attributable to specific interactions between Y or ZrO2 and phosphate ions, and differences in protein denaturation including lipid bilayer deformation.