scholarly journals A Review on Enhancing the Antibacterial Activity of ZnO: Mechanisms and Microscopic Investigation

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Buzuayehu Abebe ◽  
Enyew Amare Zereffa ◽  
Aschalew Tadesse ◽  
H. C. Ananda Murthy

Abstract Metal oxide nanomaterials are one of the preferences as antibacterial active materials. Due to its distinctive electronic configuration and suitable properties, ZnO is one of the novel antibacterial active materials. Nowadays, researchers are making a serious effort to improve the antibacterial activities of ZnO by forming a composite with the same/different bandgap semiconductor materials and doping of ions. Applying capping agents such as polymers and plant extract that control the morphology and size of the nanomaterials and optimizing different conditions also enhance the antibacterial activity. Forming a nanocomposite and doping reduces the electron/hole recombination, increases the surface area to volume ratio, and also improves the stability towards dissolution and corrosion. The release of antimicrobial ions, electrostatic interaction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generations are the crucial antibacterial activity mechanism. This review also presents a detailed discussion of the antibacterial activity improvement of ZnO by forming a composite, doping, and optimizing different conditions. The morphological analysis using scanning electron microscopy, field emission-scanning electron microscopy, field-emission transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and confocal microscopy can confirm the antibacterial activity and also supports for developing a satisfactory mechanism. Graphical abstract Graphical abstract showing the metal oxides antibacterial mechanism and the fluorescence and scanning electron microscopic images.

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-311
Author(s):  
Ali Tajdari ◽  
Amir Babaei ◽  
Alireza Goudarzi ◽  
Razie Partovi

In this research, first, ZnO nanorods were synthesized by hydrothermal method and characterized in terms of morphological and structural properties by means of field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray diffraction techniques. Subsequently, polylactic acid/ZnO, polylactic acid/TiO2, and polylactic acid/ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposites with different percentages of nanoparticles and two different types of ZnO morphologies were prepared and their microstructural, optical, mechanical, hydrolytic degradation, and antibacterial properties were investigated. Field emission scanning electron microscopy results of polylactic acid/ZnO and polylactic acid/TiO2 samples showed a proper dispersion and nanoparticle distribution for low percentages (up to 5 wt%) and increased aggregation for the higher percentages. Besides, a large increase in the aggregation tendency was observed for combined nanoparticles (polylactic acid/ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposites). Results of the tensile test, the UV–Vis absorption tests, and the hydrolytic degradation tests of the samples showed an enhanced mechanical (approximately 55% increase in the presence of 3–5 wt% of nanoparticles) and light absorption and degradation (approximately 85% increase in the presence of 3–10 wt% of nanoparticles) for the polylactic acid by incorporating nanoparticles. It was also observed that, in addition to the quality of dispersion and distribution of nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix, the type of morphology of nanoparticles can contribute to the improvement of these properties. The cylindrical morphology of ZnO played a greater role on improving the polylactic acid mechanical properties compared to the spherical ZnO morphology (approximately 20%). On the contrary, the increased polylactic acid optical properties and degradation with ZnO spherical morphology were more pronounced (approximately 60%). Interestingly, when both ZnO and TiO2 were added, a synergistic effect in the case of UV-shielding and degradation rate and alternatively, a detrimental effect on the mechanical properties were detected. (The polylactic acid optical properties increased by about 17% and its degradation more than doubled.) Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of polylactic acid was investigated against the two Gram-positive Listeria monocytogenes and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli by incorporating nanoparticles. The results indicated that as the nanoparticle percentage increases, the antibacterial activity steadily increases.


Author(s):  
Yasushi Kokubo ◽  
Hirotami Koike ◽  
Teruo Someya

One of the advantages of scanning electron microscopy is the capability for processing the image contrast, i.e., the image processing technique. Crewe et al were the first to apply this technique to a field emission scanning microscope and show images of individual atoms. They obtained a contrast which depended exclusively on the atomic numbers of specimen elements (Zcontrast), by displaying the images treated with the intensity ratio of elastically scattered to inelastically scattered electrons. The elastic scattering electrons were extracted by a solid detector and inelastic scattering electrons by an energy analyzer. We noted, however, that there is a possibility of the same contrast being obtained only by using an annular-type solid detector consisting of multiple concentric detector elements.


Author(s):  
Li Li-Sheng ◽  
L.F. Allard ◽  
W.C. Bigelow

The aromatic polyamides form a class of fibers having mechanical properties which are much better than those of aliphatic polyamides. Currently, the accepted morphology of these fibers as proposed by M.G. Dobb, et al. is a radial arrangement of pleated sheets, with the plane of the pleats parallel to the axis of the fiber. We have recently obtained evidence which supports a different morphology of this type of fiber, using ultramicrotomy and ion-thinning techniques to prepare specimens for transmission and scanning electron microscopy.


Author(s):  
Peter M. Andrews

Although there have been a number of recent scanning electron microscopic reports on the renal glomerulus, the advantages of scanning electron microscopy have not yet been applied to a systematic study of the uriniferous tubules. In the present investigation, scanning electron microscopy was used to study the ultrastructural morphology of the proximal, distal, thin loop, and collecting tubules. Material for observation was taken from rat kidneys which were fixed by vascular perfusion, sectioned by either cutting or fracturing technigues, and critically point dried.The brush border characterising proximal tubules is first detected on the luminal surface of Bowman's capsule adjacent to the urinary pole orifice. In this region one frequently finds irregular microvilli characterized by broad and flattened bases with occasional bulbous structures protruding from their surfaces.


2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (S02) ◽  
pp. 232-233
Author(s):  
A Klaus ◽  
G Hunnicutt

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, July 30 – August 3, 2005


2014 ◽  
Vol 484-485 ◽  
pp. 96-99
Author(s):  
Xue Wen Gao

This paper mainly discusses the Si/Al molar ratio, RO/R2O molar ratio, Fe content, glazing and firing system on the thickness of Longquan Celadon pink coloring effects, and using a colorimeter, field emission scanning electron microscopy were used to analyze better experimental sample microstructure and color and so on. We explored the Longquan Celadon of pink coloration mechanism.


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