Antibacterial Activities of Copper Oxide (CuO) Nanoparticles in Combination With Nisin and Ultrasound Against Foodborne Pathogens

Recently inorganic nano materials characterized with high level thermal stability and new physical and chemical properties were considered for antimicrobial therapy. One of the important feature of nanoparticles is their antimicrobial activity against bacteria and food borne pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate antibacterial activities of copper oxide nanoparticles in combination with nisin and ultrasound against foodborne pathogens.
The antibacterial properties of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NP) were investigated alone or in combination with other antimicrobials (nisin and ultrasound stimulation) against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in culture media and milk. Also effect of nanoparticle were investigated by scanning electron microscopy individually and combination of CuO and Nisin on morpholohy of S. aureus and E. coli bacteria.
The results show that there was an increasing synergistic effect between CuO NP in combination with nisin. However, the addition of ultrasound stimulation to CuO NP did not enhance the antibacterial activity of CuO. The results show that combined effect of copper oxide nanoparticles and nisin in milk medium were reduced the growth of bacteria. Also the results of the SEM were revealed that CuO nanoparticles and nisin leads to significant change in cell morphology and membrane integrity on bacteria and could be the cause of cell death.
Copper oxide nanoparticles and nisin with regard to the allowed concentration, have a significant effect on the bacteria and perhaps they can be used in food industry, pharmaceutical can be used.