Microwave induced facile synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanoparticles as efficient antibacterial agents

Abstract

Microwave assisted synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles was performed at varying pH of the synthesis medium. At pH 8 and 10, uniform and crystalline ZnO nanoparticles were formed whereas at pH 6, layered basic zinc acetate (LBZA) was obtained. The present work proposes a new strategy to synthesize LBZA via microwave irradiation method. As-prepared ZnO nanoparticles were used to study antibacterial behavior against pathogenic Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria viz. E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and E. faecalis under dark condition. The results show a significant decrease in viability of pathogenic bacterial cells with increase in interaction time with ZnO nanoparticles.