Title : Fabrication, characterization, and assessment of antimicrobial properties of zinc oxide-curcumin nanocomposites
Abstract:
Zinc oxide (ZnO) and curcumin are exceptional antimicrobial agents. These compounds have been shown to effectively combat a wide range of harmful microorganisms. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of these agents, suggesting that they are valuable for any antimicrobial arsenal. In the present study, zinc oxide-curcumin (ZC) nanocomposites were successfully synthesized using ZnO as the starting material through a direct method, similar to previously described. The nanocomposites were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and the dynamic light scattering method. The results demonstrated that curcumin and ZnO were homogeneous and had semi-spherical shapes as nanoclusters. The nanocomposites had a particle size of 172 nm and a highly positive ζ-potential (+37 mV). The antibacterial activity of nanocomposite at different concentrations was tested against clinically isolated antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria including, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter cloacae, and Serratia. The antibacterial activity of ZC nanocomposite was not observed due to the complexity of the outer membrane of these bacteria and their multiple resistance mechanisms make them formidable adversaries in the fight against bacterial infections. The physicochemical properties of nanoparticles are also crucial for determining their impact on bacterial cell walls and influencing the antibacterial effects of nanocomposites.
Keywords: Zinc oxide, Curcumin, Nanocomposite, Antibiotic-resistant, gram-negative bacteria
