Abstract:
Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles (NPs) have some indigenous properties, which make them
a good candidate for versatile biomedical and clinical applications. Although there
are numerous potentials, clinical applications of ZnO NPs are still under many obstacles.
Due to its stable nature, bigger-sized ZnO has already been used in various clinical
applications (i.e., sunscreen, toothpaste, dermatological ointment, anti-etching ointment,
etc.). The main problem of using nanosized ZnO in clinical applications is its lack of cell
specificity and the tendency to produce reactive oxygen species by external influence (i.e.,
light, sound, etc.), stability in a biological system. Surface modification of the ZnO NPs
can make them more stable, delay or control the release of reactive oxygen species
generations, and be cell-specific in biological systems. To make the ZnO NPs enriched
with cellulosic properties for antibacterial studies, the surface modification of ZnO NPs
has been carried out by Carboxymethyl-Cellulose (CMC), and relevant physical properties
(Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis, X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy,
Energy Dispersive X-Ray and Zeta Potentials) have been assessed which confirms the
formation of a conjugated matrix of ZnO NPs-CMC. The antibacterial efficacy of the
CMC-enriched ZnO NPs was further experimented with over Lactobacilli (Acidophilus
and Bulgaricus) bacterial species to examine the antibacterial activity against the naïve
molecules and found that with a slight modification of ZnO treated by CMC causes an
overall increase in antibacterial efficacy at a concentration (mass/liquid-volume) of 0.5%
(w/v) (viability reduction: 51% vs 66 %) & 1.5% w/v (viability reduction: 63 % vs 77 %)
and insignificant at deficient concentrations (0.1% w/v) for both.
