title: Anti-microbial activities of aerosolized transition metal oxide nanoparticles.
abstract: This study used the electrospray method to create airborne droplets of metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) and examined their anti-microbial activities, employing Escherichia coli as a model microbial species. We tested the anti-microbial activities of six metal oxide NPs (NiO, ZnO, Fe(2)O(3), Co(3)O(4), CuO, and TiO(2)) in both an aqueous culture medium and an aerosol exposure mode (spraying the particles directly onto the cell surface). In the aqueous medium, the both NPs and stressed E. coli cells severely aggregated. Only NiO NPs (>20 mgL(-1)) showed significant growth inhibition of E. coli ( approximately 30%). In contrast to aqueous exposure, where the direct interactions between NPs and bacteria were limited, aerosol exposure of three metal oxide NPs to E. coli enhanced NP toxicity to cells and dramatically reduced cellular viability. Electrospraying NiO, CuO, or ZnO NPs (20 nm, 20 microg, in 10 min) reduced the total number of living E. coli by more than 88%, 77% and 71%, respectively (compared to the control experiments). However, TiO(2), Co(3)O(4), and Fe(2)O(3) NPs showed no significant antibacterial activities in either the aqueous exposure mode or the aerosol exposure mode. The above observations suggest the potential application of electrosprayed metal oxide NPs to disinfect airborne pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
authors.forename: Zhipeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi-Hsuan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horst
authors.forename: Yisheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yinjie J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Da-Ren
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D028561:Transition Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D028561:Transition Elements