Work

Laser-Prepared ZnO-Ag Nanoparticles with High Light-Enhanced Antibacterial Activity

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Recently, the urgency of combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens has dramatically increased. With the development of nanotechnology, significant hopes are placed on nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties. The efficiency of such materials can be significantly enhanced through light-activated processes. In this study, we prepared composite ZnO-Ag nanoparticles and tested their ability to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The composite ZnO-Ag nanoparticles were fabricated using pulsed laser ablation of Zn and Ag targets in water using a nanosecond pulsed laser. During antibacterial tests, light-enhanced activation of the nanoparticles was achieved using low-power near UV (375 nm) and blue visible (410 nm) LED irradiation. For comparison, similar laser-fabricated ZnO nanoparticles were also tested. The combined use of nanoparticles and LED irradiation significantly increased the generation of reactive oxygen species. As a result, low nanoparticle concentrations (0.05 g/L) and low-power LED irradiation (0.17–0.22 W) significantly reduced the concentration of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, including experiments with visible light irradiation. Compared to their ZnO counterparts, the use of ZnO-Ag composite particles led to an additional increase in antimicrobial activity.

Source: Materials

DOI: 10.3390/ma18133088

Authors: Anastasia V. Volokitina, Elena D. Fakhrutdinova, Daria A. Goncharova, Sergei A. Kulinich, Valery A. Svetlichnyi

Institutions: National Research Tomsk State University, Tokai University

Language: English

Topic: Laser-Ablation Synthesis of Nanoparticles

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137