Malays. J. Anal. Sci. Volume 29 Number 4 (2025): 1529

 

Research Article

 

Studying the remedial action of zinc oxide nanoparticles on Salmonella typhimurium

 

Chiu Kai Yuan1, Sinouvassane Djearamane1,6*, Wong Ling Shing2, Ranjithkumar Rajamani3, Piyush Kumar Gupta4,5, and Saminathan Kayarohanam7

 

1Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kampar Campus, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia

2Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, INTI International University, Persiaran Perdana BBN, Putra Nilai, 71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

3Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, 602105, Tamil Nadu, India

4Department of Life Sciences, Sharda School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India

5Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era Deemed to Be University, Dehradun 248002, Uttarakhand, India

6Biomedical Research Unit Lab Animal Research Centre, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, 602 105 India

7Faculty of Bioeconomics and Health sciences, Universiti Geomatika Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 54200, Malaysia

 

*Correspondence: sinouvassane@utar.edu.my

 

Received: 8 April 2025; Revised: 20 June 2025; Accepted: 3 July 2025; Published: 25 August 2025

Abstract

In recent years, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have become the main research attention due to their wide range of applications, including incorporation into cosmetics products and wound dressings. The present study aimed to determine the antibacterial properties of ZnO NPs on the Gram-negative, foodborne pathogen, Salmonella typhimurium by investigating the growth inhibition assay, surface interaction on bacterial cell wall and morphological analysis of bacteria. The surface morphology and elemental composition of the ZnO NPs were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The binding of ZnO NPs to the bacterial cell wall was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results of the present study demonstrate that ZnO NPs exhibit a dose-dependent growth inhibitory effect on S. typhimurium. FTIR analysis revealed the involvement of functional groups such as alcohols, amide I, carboxylic acids, and phosphates in the interaction between ZnO NPs and the bacterial cell surface. SEM-EDX analysis confirmed membrane rupture and the accumulation of ZnO NPs on the bacterial surface. These findings suggest that ZnO NPs inhibit bacterial growth by inducing membrane deformities, ultimately leading to cell death. Based on these results, ZnO NPs hold promise for future applications in antimicrobial coatings for medical devices and other healthcare-related products to control bacterial infections.

Keywords: zinc oxide nanoparticle, Salmonella typhimurium, growth inhibition, anti-bacterial

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