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Zn or O? An Atomic Level Comparison on Antibacterial Activities of Zinc Oxides
Author(s) -
Yu Fen,
Fang Xuan,
Jia Huimin,
Liu Miaoxing,
Shi Xiaotong,
Xue Chaowen,
Chen Tingtao,
Wei Zhipeng,
Fang Fang,
Zhu Hui,
Xin Hongbo,
Feng Jing,
Wang Xiaolei
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201601018
Subject(s) - zinc , antibacterial activity , atomic layer deposition , staphylococcus aureus , escherichia coli , chemistry , oxygen , oxygen atom , gram , layer (electronics) , bacteria , nuclear chemistry , nanotechnology , materials science , biochemistry , biology , molecule , organic chemistry , genetics , gene
For the first time, the influence of different types of atoms (Zn and O) on the antibacterial activities of nanosized ZnO was quantitatively evaluated with the aid of a 3D‐printing‐manufactured evaluation system. Two different outermost atomic layers were manufactured separately by using an ALD (atomic layer deposition) method. Interestingly, we found that each outermost atomic layer exhibited certain differences against gram‐positive or gram‐negative bacterial species. Zinc atoms as outermost layer (ZnO−Zn) showed a more pronounced antibacterial effect towards gram‐negative E. coli ( Escherichia coli ), whereas oxygen atoms (ZnO−O) showed a stronger antibacterial activity against gram‐positive S. aureus ( Staphylococcus aureus ). A possible antibacterial mechanism has been comprehensively discussed from different perspectives, including Zn 2+ concentrations, oxygen vacancies, photocatalytic activities and the DNA structural characteristics of different bacterial species.