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Enhanced antibacterial property of zinc oxide nanoparticles by incorporation of graphene oxide

  • Original Paper:Sol-gel and hybrid materials for biological and health (medical) applications
  • Published:
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Abstract

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have shown a great potential for antibacterial and antifungal properties; however, an improvement of certain candidates is always a quest for many applications. For this purpose, we have chemically combined ZnO NPs with graphene oxide (GO) via hydrothermal process to enhance antibacterial property of zinc oxide. Before evaluating antibacterial effect, ZnO NPs and ZnO–GO nanocomposite were characterized in terms of phase composition, particles size and elemental composition by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Raman, FTIR and scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS), respectively. The antibacterial capacity of these materials was then assessed on E. coli bacterial through cell viability to quantify the E. coli inactivation efficiency. In addition, the E. coli morphological development in different conditions was examined. Results of our work showed that the combination of ZnO and GO resulted in an increase in bacterial inhibition compared with the ZnO alone. And, antibacterial effect of ZnO–GO nanocomposite is not dose dependent in case of long time treatment.

Graphical abstract

Highlights

  • Zinc oxide nanoparticles and zinc oxide–graphene oxide nanocomposite were synthesized and characterized.

  • Antibacterial property of Zinc oxide nanoparticles and zinc oxide–graphene oxide nanocomposite was performed with E. coli bacterial.

  • Zinc oxide nanoparticles incorporated with the graphene oxide sheets promoted and accelerated antibacterial efficiency of the zinc oxide nanoparticles.

  • For longer time treatment E. coli with the ZnO–GO nanocomposite, the antibacterial effect did not depend on the treatment dose in the range of concentration surveyed.

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Acknowledgements

This research is funded by Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) under grant number B2020-20-07. We acknowledge the support of time and facilities from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), VNU-HCM for supporting this study. We are grateful to Ho Chi Minh City of Technology and Education (HCMUTE) for facilities support, especially Ms. Minh Nguyen Khac Ha and Ms. Lieu Le Thi for materials preparation support of this work.

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  1. Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE), No.1 Vo Van Ngan, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

    Thi Duy Hanh Le, Huynh Nguyen Anh Tuan & Khanh Son Trinh

  2. Faculty of Materials Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Khai Tran Van

  3. Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Khai Tran Van

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  1. Thi Duy Hanh Le
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Le, T.D.H., Tuan, H.N.A., Trinh, K.S. et al. Enhanced antibacterial property of zinc oxide nanoparticles by incorporation of graphene oxide. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 104, 246–257 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-022-05923-9

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