Antibacterial Action of Zn2+ Ions Driven by the In Vivo Formed ZnO Nanoparticles
Vitasovic T. Caniglia G. Eghtesadi N. Ceccato M. Bo̷jesen E.D. Gosewinkel U. Neusser G. Rupp U. Walther P. Kranz C. Ferapontova E.E.
19 June 2024American Chemical Society
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
2024#16Issue 2430847 - 30859 pp.
Antibacterial formulations based on zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are widely used for antibiotic replacement in veterinary medicine and animal nutrition. However, the undesired environmental impact of ZnO NPs triggers a search for alternative, environmentally safer solutions. Here, we show that Zn2+ in its ionic form is a more eco-friendly antibacterial, and its biocidal action rivals that of ZnO NPs (<100 nm size), with a minimal biocidal concentration being 41(82) μg mL-1 vs 5 μg mL-1 of ZnO NPs, as determined for 103(106) CFU mL-1 E. coli. We demonstrate that the biocidal activity of Zn2+ ions is primarily associated with their uptake by E. coli and spontaneous in vivo transformation into insoluble ZnO nanocomposites at an internal bacterial pH of 7.7. Formed in vivo nanocomposite then damages E. coli membrane and intracellular components from the inside, by forming insoluble biocomposites, whose formation can also trigger ZnO characteristic reactions damaging the cells (e.g., by generation of high-potential reactive oxygen species). Our study defines a special route in which Zn2+ metal ions induce the death of bacterial cells, which might be common to other metal ions capable of forming semiconductor oxides and insoluble hydroxides at a slightly alkaline intracellular pH of some bacteria.
antibacterial activity , E. coli , environmental safety , nanotoxicity , Zn2+ ions , ZnO nanoparticles
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Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 1590-14, Aarhus C, 8000, Denmark
Aarhus University Center for Water Technology (WATEC), Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 120, Aarhus C, 8000, Denmark
Institute of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Ulm University, Albert Einstein Allee 11, Ulm, 89081, Germany
Chemical Engineering Department, Nazarbayev University, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue, Nur-Sultan, 01000, Kazakhstan
Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
Central Facility for Electron Microscopy, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, Ulm, 89081, Germany
Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO)
Aarhus University Center for Water Technology (WATEC)
Institute of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
Chemical Engineering Department
Department of Environmental Science
Central Facility for Electron Microscopy
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