Synthesizing Zno Nanoparticles by High-Energy Milling and Investigating Their Antimicrobial Effect

Biologists have increasingly used zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles in regard with biological applications. The present study aimed to assess feasibility of ZnO nanoparticles synthesis by high-energy milling as well as to investigate their antimicrobial effect.

The high-energy ball milling technique was used to produce ZnO nanoparticles from micron-scale ZnO particles. The phase state, morphology, and size of the ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by different methods of particle size analyzer (PSA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the antibacterial effect of ZnO nanoparticles was examined on E. coli and S. aureus bacteria.

The study results demonstrated that size of the synthesized nanoparticles was within the range of 20 -90 nm and their morphology was reported as nanorod and nanoparticles with multifaceted cross-section. An increase in the density of nanoparticles resulted in a rise in the antimicrobial effect. Moreover, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria inhibition zone was 3±0.5 and 7±0.5 mm respectively at the density of 6 and 10 mM. The MIC and MBC of ZnO nanoparticles provided for Staphylococcus aureus were observed 3±3 and 2.5±0 mg/ml, whereas they were reported 7.5±0 and 8±0 mg/ml for Escherichia coli bacteria.

The findings of the present study revealed that ZnO nanomaterials could be synthesized by applying high-energy milling on micron-scaled ZnO particles. In addition, they can be utilized in food packaging and preservation process.