Reactive oxygen species mediated bacterial biofilm inhibition via zinc oxide nanoparticles and their statistical determination

PLoS One. 2014 Nov 17;9(11):e111289. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111289. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The formation of bacterial biofilm is a major challenge in clinical applications. The main aim of this study is to describe the synthesis, characterization and biocidal potential of zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs) against bacterial strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These nanoparticles were synthesized via soft chemical solution process in a very short time and their structural properties have been investigated in detail by using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy measurements. In this work, the potential of synthesized ZnO-NPs (∼ 10-15 nm) has been assessed in-vitro inhibition of bacteria and the formation of their biofilms was observed using the tissue culture plate assays. The crystal violet staining on biofilm formation and its optical density revealed the effect on biofilm inhibition. The NPs at a concentration of 100 µg/mL significantly inhibited the growth of bacteria and biofilm formation. The biofilm inhibition by ZnO-NPs was also confirmed via bio-transmission electron microscopy (Bio-TEM). The Bio-TEM analysis of ZnO-NPs treated bacteria confirmed the deformation and damage of cells. The bacterial growth in presence of NPs concluded the bactericidal ability of NPs in a concentration dependent manner. It has been speculated that the antibacterial activity of NPs as a surface coating material, could be a feasible approach for controlling the pathogens. Additionally, the obtained bacterial solution data is also in agreement with the results from statistical analytical methods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Bacteria / growth & development*
  • Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Biofilms / growth & development*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / microbiology*
  • Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • X-Ray Diffraction
  • Zinc Oxide / chemistry*
  • Zinc Oxide / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Zinc Oxide

Grants and funding

Rizwan Wahab would like to extend the appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding the work through the research group project no. RGP-218. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.