Roussin's black salt decorated Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles for bacterial inhibition

Antibacterial RBS@Cu:ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by decorating Cu-doped ZnO NPs with Roussin's black salt (RBS), a nitric oxide (NO) precursor. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) tests indicated that the RBS@Cu:ZnO NPs were particulate matter with crystal morphology and nanoscaled sizes. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed the wurtzite crystal structure of the NPs. Under irradiation of 543 nm laser, the RBS@Cu:ZnO NPs released NO in a controllable manner due to the decomposition of RBS. Cu-doped ZnO with a Cu/Zn molar ratio of 5% showed antibacterial activity in response to ultraviolet and visible light by photocatalysis. The doping of Cu enhanced the visible light absorption of ZnO by reducing its band gap. The RBS@Cu:ZnO NPs exhibited high antibacterial activity originating from the synergistic bacterial inhibitory effects of Cu-doped ZnO and released NO under visible laser irradiation. More importantly, the antibacterial activity could be controlled by adjusting the power output of laser irradiation. The RBS@Cu:ZnO NPs are promising antibacterial agents with potential applications in biomedicine and pharmaceutics.

Automated summary

Antibacterial RBS@Cu:ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by decorating Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles with Roussin's black salt (RBS), which served as a nitric oxide (NO) precursor. The nanoparticles exhibited crystal morphology and nanoscaled sizes as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) tests. The nanoparticles showed high antibacterial activity due to the synergistic effects of Cu-doped ZnO and released NO under visible laser irradiation. The antibacterial activity could be controlled by adjusting the power output of laser irradiation. The RBS@Cu:ZnO nanoparticles have potential applications in biomedicine and pharmaceutics as antibacterial agents.