Down-top nanofabrication of binary (CdO)x (ZnO)1-x nanoparticles and their antibacterial activity

Kasmani R, Kasim H, Al-Ghaili AM, Saleh MA, Banoqitah EM, Alhawsawi AM, Baqer AA, Liu J, Xu S, Li Q, Noorazlan AM, Ahmed AAA, Flaifel MH, Paiman S, Nazrin N, Ali Al-Asbahi B, Wang J. The Effect of Precursor Concentration on the Particle Size, Crystal Size, and Optical Energy Gap of CexSn1-xO2 Nanofabrication

In the present work, a thermal treatment technique is applied for the synthesis of Ce_xSn_1-xO₂ nanoparticles. Using this method has developed understanding of how lower and higher precursor values affect the morphology, structure, and optical properties of Ce_xSn_1-xO₂ nanoparticles. Ce_xSn_1-xO₂ nanoparticle synthesis involves a reaction between cerium and tin sources, namely, cerium nitrate hexahydrate and tin (II) chloride dihydrate, respectively, and the capping agent, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The findings indicate that lower x values yield smaller particle size with a higher energy band gap, while higher x values yield a larger particle size with a smaller energy band gap. Thus, products with lower x values may be suitable for antibacterial activity applications as smaller particles can diffuse through the cell wall faster, while products with higher x values may be suitable for solar cell energy applications as more electrons can be generated at larger particle sizes. The synthesized samples were profiled via a number of methods, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). As revealed by the XRD pattern analysis, the Ce_xSn_1-xO₂ nanoparticles formed after calcination reflect the cubic fluorite structure and cassiterite-type tetragonal structure of Ce_xSn_1-xO₂ nanoparticles. Meanwhile, using FT-IR analysis, Ce-O and Sn-O were confirmed as the primary bonds of ready Ce_xSn_1-xO₂ nanoparticle samples, whilst TEM analysis highlighted that the average particle size was in the range 6-21 nm as the precursor concentration (Ce(NO₃)₃·6H₂O) increased from 0.00 to 1.00. Moreover, the diffuse UV-visible reflectance spectra used to determine the optical band gap based on the Kubelka-Munk equation showed that an increase in x value has caused a decrease in the energy band gap and vice versa.

Do Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Have Significant Antibacterial Properties?

The use of metal oxide nanoparticles is one of the promising ways for overcoming antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have found wide applications in different fields of biomedicine. Several studies have suggested using the antimicrobial potential of IONPs. Iron is one of the key microelements and plays an important role in the function of living systems of different hierarchies. Iron abundance and its physiological functions bring into question the ability of iron compounds at the same concentrations, on the one hand, to inhibit the microbial growth and, on the other hand, to positively affect mammalian cells. At present, multiple studies have been published that show the antimicrobial effect of IONPs against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. Several studies have established that IONPs have a low toxicity to eukaryotic cells. It gives hope that IONPs can be considered potential antimicrobial agents of the new generation that combine antimicrobial action and high biocompatibility with the human body. This review is intended to inform readers about the available data on the antimicrobial properties of IONPs, a range of susceptible bacteria, mechanisms of the antibacterial action, dependence of the antibacterial action of IONPs on the method for synthesis, and the biocompatibility of IONPs with eukaryotic cells and tissues.

Comparing the microbial inhibition of nanofibres with multi-metal ion exchanged nano-zeolite Y in air sampling

AIMS

Fibre membranes containing metals have attracted great attention because of their high antibacterial efficiency. However, comparison of antibacterial activity of fibres with multi-metals in air samples has remained understudied.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Different ion exchanged nano-zeolite Y (IE-NZY) of Ag, Zn and Cu was studied. Polyvinylpyrrolidine/polyvinylidene fluoride nanofibres containing various IE-NZY were synthesized according to electrospinning technique. The presence of metal ions was confirmed using XRF. The morphological properties of nanofibres were characterized by SEM. Zone of inhibition was seen between 10·1 and 12 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 11·5-14·57 for Escherichia coli. IE-NZY containing Ag, Zn and Cu had the highest antibacterial efficiency. In the air samples, there were any colonies on the media under the Ag/Cu-NZY and Zn/Cu/Ag-NZY nanofibres.

CONCLUSIONS

The bacterial inhibition for nanofibres containing a three metal nano-zeolite Y (TM-NZY) is higher than bimetals (BM-NZY) types while for monometals nano-zeolite Y (MM-NZY), it was lower compared to the others.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The results indicate significant antibacterial activity of ion-exchanged NZY in air sampling.

Thermal Calcination-Based Production of SnO₂ Nanopowder: An Analysis of SnO₂ Nanoparticle Characteristics and Antibacterial Activities

SnO₂ nanoparticle production using thermal treatment with tin(II) chloride dihydrate and polyvinylpyrrolidone capping agent precursor materials for calcination was investigated. Samples were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), diffuse UV-vis reflectance spectra, photoluminescence (PL) spectra and the electron spin resonance (ESR). XRD analysis found tetragonal crystalline structures in the SnO₂ nanoparticles generated through calcination. EDX and FT-IR spectroscopy phase analysis verified the derivation of the Sn and O in the SnO₂ nanoparticle samples from the precursor materials. An average nanoparticle size of 4–15.5 nm was achieved by increasing calcination temperature from 500 °C to 800 °C, as confirmed through TEM. The valence state and surface composition of the resulting nanoparticle were analyzed using XPS. Diffuse UV-vis reflectance spectra were used to evaluate the optical energy gap using the Kubelka-Munk equation. Greater calcination temperature resulted in the energy band gap falling from 3.90 eV to 3.64 eV. PL spectra indicated a positive relationship between particle size and photoluminescence. Magnetic features were investigated through ESR, which revealed the presence of unpaired electrons. The magnetic field resonance decreases along with an increase of the g-factor value as the calcination temperature increased from 500 °C to 800 °C. Finally, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 Gram (–ve) and Bacillus subtilis UPMC 1175 Gram (+ve) were used for in vitro evaluation of the tin oxide nanoparticle’s antibacterial activity. This work indicated that the zone of inhibition of 22 mm has good antibacterial activity toward the Gram-positive B. subtilis UPMC 1175.