title: Is the effect of surface modifying molecules on antibacterial activity universal for a given material?
abstract: Antibacterial activity of nanomaterials is strongly dependent on their properties, and their stability and toxicity can be varied using surface coatings. We investigated the effect of different surface modifying molecules on the antibacterial properties of two ZnO nanoparticle samples. We found that the starting surface properties of the nanoparticles have significant effects on the attachment of the surface modifying molecules and consequent antibacterial activity. Two out of five investigated surface modifying molecules not only had a significant difference in the magnitude of their effect on different nanoparticles, but also resulted in the opposite effects on two ZnO nanoparticle samples (an enhancement of antibacterial activity for one and a reduction of antibacterial activity for the other ZnO sample). This indicates that no general rule on the effect of a specific molecule on the toxicity of a metal oxide nanoparticle can be derived without knowing the nanoparticle properties, due to the fact that surface modifier attachment onto the surface is affected by the initial surface properties.
authors: Department of Physics, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. dalek@hku.hk.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Hsu
authors: Fangzhou
authors: F
authors: Liu
authors: Yu Hang
authors: YH
authors: Leung
authors: Angel P Y
authors: AP
authors: Ma
authors: Aleksandra B
authors: AB
authors: Djurišić
authors: Frederick C C
authors: FC
authors: Leung
authors: Wai Kin
authors: WK
authors: Chan
authors: Hung Kay
authors: HK
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004355:Drug Stability; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008422:Materials Testing; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D015034:Zinc Oxide