Enhanced engineered ZnO nanostructures and their antibacterial activity against urinary, gastrointestinal, respiratory and dermal genital infections

Abstract

Antimicrobial effect of nano-metal oxides especially ZnO NPs and their potent nanofluids against microorganisms have been studied in vitro conditions for years. Here, three kinds of gram-negative and eight gram-positive bacteria were applied investigating minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration and well-diffusion method of ZnO nanofluids against these pathogens. Gentamycin and nalidixic acid were then used as strong references in inhibition zone results. In this study, four different formulations of ZnO nanofluids containing various ZnO NPs (as basic scaffold framework) along with several effective chemical reagents in nanofluids were fabricated, whereas the best matched nanoformulation was very promising against Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. In such nanoformulation, the surface of ZnO NPs was functionalized or engineered with CNT-amine, and then formulated with ecofriendly ZnO nanopolymer (ZnO/PVP). The formulated ZnO/PVP could perform as a synergism co-assistant in final energetic nanofluid throughout the antibacterial activity tests. Final nanofluid was successfully contacted with interface of different bacteria cell membrane such as nosocomial, skin, urinary and bronchial in comparison with the controls. This new biofilm could create potential antimicrobial agents when ZnO nanofluid surround the bacteria and produce a new complex–matrix structure. Such event further disturbs reactive oxygen conductivity and effectively suppressed bacteria viability leading eventually to necrotic cell death. The high resistance in this long bioprocess system, provided special strong surface energy and powerful effectiveness of ZnO NPs in granting antimicrobial coating properties that make this formulation a new research opportunity for various industries addressing medical tissue engineering.