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Review
. 2024 Apr 15;15(4):103.
doi: 10.3390/jfb15040103.

Zinc Oxide-Based Nanomaterials for Microbiostatic Activities: A Review

Alemtsehay Tesfay Reda  1 , Jae Yeon Park  1 , Yong Tae Park  1
Affiliations
Review

Zinc Oxide-Based Nanomaterials for Microbiostatic Activities: A Review

Alemtsehay Tesfay Reda et al. J Funct Biomater. .

Abstract

The world is fighting infectious diseases. Therefore, effective antimicrobials are required to prevent the spread of microbes and protect human health. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nano-materials are known for their antimicrobial activities. Because of their distinctive physical and chemical characteristics, they can be used in medical and environmental applications. ZnO-based composites are among the leading sources of antimicrobial research. They are effective at killing (microbicidal) and inhibiting the growth (microbiostatic) of numerous microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Although most studies have focused on the microbicidal features, there is a lack of reviews on their microbiostatic effects. This review provides a detailed overview of available reports on the microbiostatic activities of ZnO-based nano-materials against different microorganisms. Additionally, the factors that affect the efficacy of these materials, their time course, and a comparison of the available antimicrobials are highlighted in this review. The basic properties of ZnO, challenges of working with microorganisms, and working mechanisms of microbiostatic activities are also examined. This review underscores the importance of further research to better understand ZnO-based nano-materials for controlling microbial growth.

Keywords: Zinc oxide; antimicrobial; microbiostatic activity; nano-materials; nanotechnology.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in molecular level. Reprinted from Ref. [115].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Antimicrobial activity mechanism of ZnO nanostructures. Reprinted from Ref. [129].
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) Response of P. putida microbe to nano-ZnO. Reprinted from Ref. [133]. (B) Effect of size of ZnO NPs on growth of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus strain. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [135]. Copyright 2011 American Chemical Society.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Growth inhibition studies of ZnO+PBS, ZnO+IL1, ZnO+IL2, IL1, IL2, and gentamicin at the concentration range of 50−120 μg/mL in (a) E. coli, (b) B. subtilis, (c) K. pneumoniae, and (d) S. epidermidis. PBS-treated cells were treated as a negative control. Error bars represent standard error with respect to the mean of three biological replicates. ** p < 0.001, *** p < 0.0001. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [147]. Copyright 2018 American Chemical Society.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Growth curve (A) and inhibition efficiency (B) of E. coli and S. aureus exposed to the ethylcellulose/gelatin fibers with and without UV light. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [144]. Copyright 2018 American Chemical Society.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Change in the band energy gap for metal/oxide-modified ZnO NPs and their antimicrobial mechanisms. Reprinted from Ref. [143].
Figure 7
Figure 7
Antibacterial effect of different ZnO samples against E. coli and S. aureus and under different incubation times in vitro. ZnO samples co-cultured with bacteria for 6 h (A,C) and 24 h (B,D). * p > 0.05, ** 0.01 < p < 0.05, and *** 0.001 < p < 0.0. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [175]. Copyright 2020 American Chemical Society.
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