Chapter 15 - Advances in the synthesis and antimicrobial applications of metal oxide nanostructures

Abstract

Microbes are increasingly becoming resistant to existing antibiotics. There is a huge unmet need to explore new antibiotic compounds. Nanostructures offer a unique option to be explored as antibiotic agents. Metal oxide nanostructures are shown to have nonspecific toxicity to microbes, which makes it difficult to develop resistance against them. The present chapters discuss a variety of metal oxide nanostructures, namely, zinc oxide (ZnO), copper oxide (CuO), titanium oxide (TiO2), and silver oxide (Ag2O) for antimicrobial applications. The synthesis of these nanostructures is discussed in detail using methods like chemical co-precipitation, microwave pyrolysis, hydrothermal, and green synthetic routes. The characterization of these nanostructures is discussed in terms of their particle size, shape, and functionalization. The exposure of microorganisms to these nanostructures is discussed in terms of efficacy like minimum inhibitory concentration, dose-dependency, and exposure time. The mechanism of antimicrobial activity is also discussed.