Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Fe-, Co-, and Mn-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are one of the most widely used nanoparticulate materials due to their antimicrobial properties. However, the current use of ZnO NPs is hindered by their potential cytotoxicity concerns, which are likely attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hong Yin, Yang Lu, Rui Chen, Rebecca Orrell-Trigg, Sheeana Gangadoo, James Chapman, Ivan Cole, Vi Khanh Truong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/24/5966
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846103448083234816
author Hong Yin
Yang Lu
Rui Chen
Rebecca Orrell-Trigg
Sheeana Gangadoo
James Chapman
Ivan Cole
Vi Khanh Truong
author_facet Hong Yin
Yang Lu
Rui Chen
Rebecca Orrell-Trigg
Sheeana Gangadoo
James Chapman
Ivan Cole
Vi Khanh Truong
author_sort Hong Yin
collection DOAJ
description Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are one of the most widely used nanoparticulate materials due to their antimicrobial properties. However, the current use of ZnO NPs is hindered by their potential cytotoxicity concerns, which are likely attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the dissolution of particles to ionic zinc. To reduce the cytotoxicity of ZnO NPs, transitional metals are introduced into ZnO lattices to modulate the ROS production and NP dissolution. However, the influence of the doping element, doping concentration, and particle size on the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties remains unexplored. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of a library of doped ZnO NPs to elucidate the relationship between their physicochemical properties, antimicrobial activity against <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>), and cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. The library comprises 30 variants, incorporating three different dopant metals—iron, manganese, and cobalt—at concentrations of 0.25%, 1%, and 2%, and calcined at three temperatures (350 °C, 500 °C, and 600 °C), resulting in varied particle sizes. These ZnO NPs were prepared by low temperature co-precipitation followed by high-temperature calcination. Our results reveal that the choice of dopant elements significantly influences both antimicrobial efficacy and cytotoxicity, while dopant concentration and particle size have comparatively minor effects. High-throughput UV–visible spectroscopic analysis identified Mn- and Co-doped ZnO NPs as highly effective against <i>E. coli</i> under standard conditions. Compared with undoped ZnO particles, Mn- and Co-doping significantly increased the oxidative stress, and the Zn ion release from NPs was increased by Mn doping and reduced by Fe doping. The combined effects of these factors increased the cytotoxicity of Mn-doped ZnO particles. As a result, Co-doped ZnO particles, especially those with 2 wt.% doping, exhibited the most favourable balance between enhanced antibacterial activity and minimized cytotoxicity, making them promising candidates for antimicrobial applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-e3aac0a0a08c4b1f9bc739fcc82e813f
institution Kabale University
issn 1420-3049
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-e3aac0a0a08c4b1f9bc739fcc82e813f2024-12-27T14:42:48ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492024-12-012924596610.3390/molecules29245966Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Fe-, Co-, and Mn-Doped ZnO NanoparticlesHong Yin0Yang Lu1Rui Chen2Rebecca Orrell-Trigg3Sheeana Gangadoo4James Chapman5Ivan Cole6Vi Khanh Truong7School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaKey Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Ministry of Education of China, College of Food Engineering & Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Occupational Safety and Health, Institute of Urban Safety and Environmental Science, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing 100054, ChinaSchool of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaSchool of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaSchool of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, AustraliaSchool of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA 5042, AustraliaZinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are one of the most widely used nanoparticulate materials due to their antimicrobial properties. However, the current use of ZnO NPs is hindered by their potential cytotoxicity concerns, which are likely attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the dissolution of particles to ionic zinc. To reduce the cytotoxicity of ZnO NPs, transitional metals are introduced into ZnO lattices to modulate the ROS production and NP dissolution. However, the influence of the doping element, doping concentration, and particle size on the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties remains unexplored. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of a library of doped ZnO NPs to elucidate the relationship between their physicochemical properties, antimicrobial activity against <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>), and cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. The library comprises 30 variants, incorporating three different dopant metals—iron, manganese, and cobalt—at concentrations of 0.25%, 1%, and 2%, and calcined at three temperatures (350 °C, 500 °C, and 600 °C), resulting in varied particle sizes. These ZnO NPs were prepared by low temperature co-precipitation followed by high-temperature calcination. Our results reveal that the choice of dopant elements significantly influences both antimicrobial efficacy and cytotoxicity, while dopant concentration and particle size have comparatively minor effects. High-throughput UV–visible spectroscopic analysis identified Mn- and Co-doped ZnO NPs as highly effective against <i>E. coli</i> under standard conditions. Compared with undoped ZnO particles, Mn- and Co-doping significantly increased the oxidative stress, and the Zn ion release from NPs was increased by Mn doping and reduced by Fe doping. The combined effects of these factors increased the cytotoxicity of Mn-doped ZnO particles. As a result, Co-doped ZnO particles, especially those with 2 wt.% doping, exhibited the most favourable balance between enhanced antibacterial activity and minimized cytotoxicity, making them promising candidates for antimicrobial applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/24/5966doped zinc oxidenanoparticlesantimicrobial properties<i>E. coli</i>cytotoxicity
spellingShingle Hong Yin
Yang Lu
Rui Chen
Rebecca Orrell-Trigg
Sheeana Gangadoo
James Chapman
Ivan Cole
Vi Khanh Truong
Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Fe-, Co-, and Mn-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles
Molecules
doped zinc oxide
nanoparticles
antimicrobial properties
<i>E. coli</i>
cytotoxicity
title Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Fe-, Co-, and Mn-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles
title_full Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Fe-, Co-, and Mn-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles
title_fullStr Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Fe-, Co-, and Mn-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles
title_full_unstemmed Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Fe-, Co-, and Mn-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles
title_short Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Fe-, Co-, and Mn-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles
title_sort cytotoxicity and antimicrobial efficacy of fe co and mn doped zno nanoparticles
topic doped zinc oxide
nanoparticles
antimicrobial properties
<i>E. coli</i>
cytotoxicity
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/24/5966
work_keys_str_mv AT hongyin cytotoxicityandantimicrobialefficacyoffecoandmndopedznonanoparticles
AT yanglu cytotoxicityandantimicrobialefficacyoffecoandmndopedznonanoparticles
AT ruichen cytotoxicityandantimicrobialefficacyoffecoandmndopedznonanoparticles
AT rebeccaorrelltrigg cytotoxicityandantimicrobialefficacyoffecoandmndopedznonanoparticles
AT sheeanagangadoo cytotoxicityandantimicrobialefficacyoffecoandmndopedznonanoparticles
AT jameschapman cytotoxicityandantimicrobialefficacyoffecoandmndopedznonanoparticles
AT ivancole cytotoxicityandantimicrobialefficacyoffecoandmndopedznonanoparticles
AT vikhanhtruong cytotoxicityandantimicrobialefficacyoffecoandmndopedznonanoparticles