Functional Properties and Safety Considerations of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Under Varying Conditions
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) exhibit diverse morphologies and sizes, influencing their functional properties. However, the relationship between their morphology and behavior under varying conditions remains poorly understood. This study provides novel insights by linking ZnO NPs shape to gener...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| author | Ana Rita Mendes Carlos M. Granadeiro Andreia Leite Otmar Geiss Ivana Bianchi Jessica Ponti Dora Mehn Eulália Pereira Paula Teixeira Fátima Poças |
| author_facet | Ana Rita Mendes Carlos M. Granadeiro Andreia Leite Otmar Geiss Ivana Bianchi Jessica Ponti Dora Mehn Eulália Pereira Paula Teixeira Fátima Poças |
| author_sort | Ana Rita Mendes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) exhibit diverse morphologies and sizes, influencing their functional properties. However, the relationship between their morphology and behavior under varying conditions remains poorly understood. This study provides novel insights by linking ZnO NPs shape to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and to antimicrobial efficacy under varying temperatures. ROS generation was confirmed via electron paramagnetic resonance, although no antioxidant activity was observed. Antibacterial tests against <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> at different temperatures (4–22 °C) revealed that sheet-shaped NPs achieved complete bacterial reduction (7.5 log CFU mL<sup>−1</sup> for <i>E. coli</i> at 4 and 22 °C; 6.8 log CFU mL<sup>−1</sup> for <i>S. aureus</i> at 22 °C). Flower-shaped NPs were less effective due to larger size and reduced surface area. Zeta potential ranged from −44 to −58 mV, indicating high stability, with sheet-shaped particles being the most dispersed. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed closer interaction between sheet-shaped NPs and <i>E. coli</i> in agreement with the higher activity. Antibacterial efficacy decreased at 4 °C, highlighting implications for cold storage. The Weibull model successfully described <i>E. coli</i> reduction. These aspects were not previously addressed in the published work. The effect of temperature on the activity and its modeling are new insights into the morphology-dependent antimicrobial activity of ZnO NPs, supporting their integration into packaging materials for food applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f59b0fb88e1b49e7a059be06dff0a9c6 |
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| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj-art-f59b0fb88e1b49e7a059be06dff0a9c62025-06-25T14:14:25ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-06-01151289210.3390/nano15120892Functional Properties and Safety Considerations of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Under Varying ConditionsAna Rita Mendes0Carlos M. Granadeiro1Andreia Leite2Otmar Geiss3Ivana Bianchi4Jessica Ponti5Dora Mehn6Eulália Pereira7Paula Teixeira8Fátima Poças9Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF—Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina—Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, PortugalREQUIMTE/LAQV & Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, PortugalREQUIMTE/LAQV & Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, PortugalEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra, ItalyEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra, ItalyEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra, ItalyEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra, ItalyREQUIMTE/LAQV & Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, PortugalUniversidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF—Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina—Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, PortugalUniversidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF—Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina—Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, PortugalZinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) exhibit diverse morphologies and sizes, influencing their functional properties. However, the relationship between their morphology and behavior under varying conditions remains poorly understood. This study provides novel insights by linking ZnO NPs shape to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and to antimicrobial efficacy under varying temperatures. ROS generation was confirmed via electron paramagnetic resonance, although no antioxidant activity was observed. Antibacterial tests against <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> at different temperatures (4–22 °C) revealed that sheet-shaped NPs achieved complete bacterial reduction (7.5 log CFU mL<sup>−1</sup> for <i>E. coli</i> at 4 and 22 °C; 6.8 log CFU mL<sup>−1</sup> for <i>S. aureus</i> at 22 °C). Flower-shaped NPs were less effective due to larger size and reduced surface area. Zeta potential ranged from −44 to −58 mV, indicating high stability, with sheet-shaped particles being the most dispersed. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed closer interaction between sheet-shaped NPs and <i>E. coli</i> in agreement with the higher activity. Antibacterial efficacy decreased at 4 °C, highlighting implications for cold storage. The Weibull model successfully described <i>E. coli</i> reduction. These aspects were not previously addressed in the published work. The effect of temperature on the activity and its modeling are new insights into the morphology-dependent antimicrobial activity of ZnO NPs, supporting their integration into packaging materials for food applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/12/892ZnO nanostructuresmorphology and sizefunctional propertiesantibacterial efficacytemperature effectROS generation |
| spellingShingle | Ana Rita Mendes Carlos M. Granadeiro Andreia Leite Otmar Geiss Ivana Bianchi Jessica Ponti Dora Mehn Eulália Pereira Paula Teixeira Fátima Poças Functional Properties and Safety Considerations of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Under Varying Conditions Nanomaterials ZnO nanostructures morphology and size functional properties antibacterial efficacy temperature effect ROS generation |
| title | Functional Properties and Safety Considerations of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Under Varying Conditions |
| title_full | Functional Properties and Safety Considerations of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Under Varying Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Functional Properties and Safety Considerations of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Under Varying Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Functional Properties and Safety Considerations of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Under Varying Conditions |
| title_short | Functional Properties and Safety Considerations of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Under Varying Conditions |
| title_sort | functional properties and safety considerations of zinc oxide nanoparticles under varying conditions |
| topic | ZnO nanostructures morphology and size functional properties antibacterial efficacy temperature effect ROS generation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/12/892 |
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