Synthesis of nano-ZnO by chemical reduction method and their micro biocide activity against bacterial skin pathogens

Abstract

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (nano-ZnO) were prepared by chemical reduction method. Zinc nitrate was taken as the metal precursor and sodium hydroxide as a reducing agent. The formation of the ZnO nanoparticles (nano-ZnO) was monitored using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed the formation of nano-ZnO by exhibiting the typical surface plasmon absorption maxima at 360-380 nm. The average particle size of ZnO nanoparticles was analysed to be 48nm. We have used XRD, TEM, SEM and UV–Vis spectroscopy to characterize the nanoparticles obtained. The average size and morphology of nano-ZnO were determined by TEM. TEM photographs indicate that the nanopowders consist of well dispersed agglomerates of grains with a narrow size distribution (22.3 to72.8 nm). The synthesized nanoparticles have been structurally characterized by XRD. The peaks in the XRD pattern are in good agreement and no peaks of other impurity crystalline phases were detected. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of the ZnO nanoparticles dispersion was measured by Kirby-Bauer method. The nanoparticles were found to be completely cytotoxic to most prevailing microorganisms in bacterial cutaneous infection like Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella. The ZnO nanoparticles were found to exhibit antibacterial effects at low concentrations. These nanomaterials were shown to be an effective bactericide & may be suitable for the formulation of new types of bactericidal materials.