Size-dependent Bacterial Growth Inhibition and Antibacterial Activity of Ag-doped ZnO Nanoparticles under Different Atmospheric Conditions

Abstract

Silver is commonly used antibacterial material, and showed improved results when doped to less expensive ZnO nanoparticles. Chemical reduction method with zinc acetate as host and silver nitrate as dopant precursor was used. The surface area of particles was enhanced by calcination in different atmospheric conditions. Antibacterial activity of synthesized nanoparticles was evaluated against different Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains. Minimum inhibitory (6 to 21 mM) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (23 to 47 mM) indicated that antibacterial activity of nanoparticles was increased by silver doping and calcination in oxygen atmosphere. The X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic data further confirmed the hypothesis. Present study confirmed that oxygen treated silver doped zinc oxide nanoparticles could have pharmacological applications as alternative for antibiotics and disinfectants.