Affiliation:
1. Medical Biophysics Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria City, Egypt
2. Environmental Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), Alexandria City, Egypt
Abstract
Background:
The re-emergence of infectious diseases and the increasing rate of the appearance of many antibiotic-resistant strains are major public health concerns. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have a great antibacterial effect. Few reports stated the antibacterial effect of low electric field (LEF).
Objective:
The paper aimed to study the antibacterial effect of LEF at low frequency and investigate the antibacterial effectiveness of using LEF in synergy with ZnO-NPs.
Methods:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were examined as models for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively. The bacterial suspension was exposed to different concentrations of Zn-NPs ranging from 100-1600 µg/ml or 2 V/cm, 500 Hz AC electric field for 5 min. ZnO-NPs were prepared and characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, TEM, and SEM. The combined effect of LEF exposure with each ZnO-NPs concentration was assessed.
Results:
1600 µg/ml ZnO-NPs cause 41.93% and 48.15% death, LEF produces 20.88% and 28.03% death, and the synergetic effect causes 50.41% and 70.27% death for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively. The death percentages were correlated with DNA concentration and deformation, reactive oxygen species concentration, and ultrastructure changes.
Conclusions:
LEF has antibacterial properties and can be used in combination with ZnO-NPs to increase its lethal effect.
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Pharmaceutical Science,Biomedical Engineering,Medicine (miscellaneous),Bioengineering,Biotechnology