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Synthesis, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Activity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Against Human Pathogens

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Abstract

The development of reliable processes for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles is an important aspect of nanotechnology today. Zinc oxide nanoparticles comprise well-known inhibitory and bactericidal effects. Emergence of antimicrobial resistance by pathogenic bacteria is a major health problem in recent years. The present study is concerned about the synthesis, characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles, and their use as antibacterial agent. Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical (precipitation) method using zinc nitrate and NaOH. The synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles were characterized with scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction analysis. The antimicrobial activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles was tested against human pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using well diffusion method. Similarly, the antibacterial activity of standard antibiotics was tested against human pathogens using the disc diffusion method. The efficiency of zinc oxide nanoparticles was compared with that of standard antibiotics. The results showed that zinc oxide nanoparticles have strong antimicrobial activity against all tested pathogens. The antibacterial activity increased with increasing concentration of zinc oxide nanoparticles. The results of the study confirmed that the zinc oxide nanoparticles may serve as promising antibacterial agents.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Paul Dinakaran, Chancellor, Dr. Paul P. Appasamy, Vice Chancellor, and Dr. Joseph Kennady, Registrar of Karunya University for providing the necessary facilities for carrying out the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology & Health Sciences, Karunya University, Karunya Nagar, Coimbatore, 641 114, India

    P. M. Narayanan, Wijo Samuel Wilson, Ashish Thomas Abraham & Murugan Sevanan

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  1. P. M. Narayanan
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  2. Wijo Samuel Wilson
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  3. Ashish Thomas Abraham
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  4. Murugan Sevanan
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Correspondence to Murugan Sevanan.

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Narayanan, P.M., Wilson, W.S., Abraham, A.T. et al. Synthesis, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Activity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Against Human Pathogens. BioNanoSci. 2, 329–335 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12668-012-0061-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12668-012-0061-6

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