Multiscale Metal Oxide Particles to Enhance Photocatalytic Antimicrobial Activity against Escherichia coli and M13 Bacteriophage under Dual Ultraviolet Irradiation.

Su-Eon Jin,Hyo-Eon Jin

doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics13020222

Abstract

Antimicrobial activity of multiscale metal oxide (MO) particles against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and M13 bacteriophage (phage) was investigated under dual ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Zinc oxide (ZnO), magnesium oxide (MgO), cuprous oxide (Cu2O), and cupric oxide (CuO) were selected as photocatalytic antimicrobials in MO particles. Physicochemical properties including morphology, particle size/particle size distribution, atomic composition, crystallinity, and porosity were evaluated. Under UV-A and UV-C irradiation with differential UV-C intensities, the antimicrobial activity of MO particles was monitored in E. coli and phage. MO particles had nano-, micro- and nano- to microscale sizes with irregular shapes, composed of atoms as ratios of chemical formulae and presented crystallinity as pure materials. They had wide-range specific surface area levels of 0.40–46.34 m2/g. MO particles themselves showed antibacterial activity against E. coli, which was the highest among the ZnO particles. However, no viral inactivation by MO particles occurred in phage. Under dual UV irradiation, multiscale ZnO and CuO particles had superior antimicrobial activities against E. coli and phage, as mixtures of nano- and microparticles for enhanced photocatalytic antimicrobials. The results showed that the dual UV-multiscale MO particle hybrids exhibit enhanced antibiotic potentials. It can also be applied as a next-generation antibiotic tool in industrial and clinical fields.

Highlights

Metal oxide (MO) particles have been highlighted as nano-antibiotics against pathogenic microorganisms for enhanced disinfection [1,2]
Their physicochemical characteristics including morphology, particle size, atomic composition, crystallinity, and porosity are the major factors to affect the responses of microorganisms inducing antimicrobial actions [7]
We investigated whether multiscale metal oxide (MO) particles, a mixture of MO NPs and MPs could have an enhanced antimicrobial activity coupled with nonUV or UV irradiations

Summary

Introduction

Metal oxide (MO) particles have been highlighted as nano-antibiotics against pathogenic microorganisms for enhanced disinfection [1,2]. They exhibit wide-spectrum antimicrobial activities against bacteria as well as viruses, and even against antibiotic-resistant microorganisms [3,4]. In. MO particles, biological and toxicological responses against microorganisms are primarily mediated by physicochemical characteristics under non-UV or UV irradiation. MO particles, biological and toxicological responses against microorganisms are primarily mediated by physicochemical characteristics under non-UV or UV irradiation Their physicochemical characteristics including morphology, particle size, atomic composition, crystallinity, and porosity are the major factors to affect the responses of microorganisms inducing antimicrobial actions [7]. The antimicrobial activity of multiscale MO particles ranging from nano- to microsized levels should be screened

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion