Effect of ZnO nanoparticle sizes and illumination on growth inhibition of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in cultivation medium

Abstract

We study antibacterial effects of the zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in cultivation medium (Mueller-Hinton broth) on Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria models. We compare synthesized ZnO hedgehog NPs and commercial ZnO NPs (50 nm and 20 μm nominal size) in different concentrations (1 mg/mL and 0.1 mg/mL). Results show that E. coli are more sensitive to the ZnO presence in the cultivation media than S. aureus. We also characterize influence of visible and UV light on the ZnO NP effects.