title: Nanostructured ZnO films on stainless steel are highly safe and effective for antimicrobial applications.
abstract: The safety and effectiveness of antimicrobial ZnO films must be established for general applications. In this study, the antimicrobial activity, skin irritation, elution behavior, and mechanical properties of nanostructured ZnO films on stainless steel were evaluated. ZnO nanoparticle (NP) and ZnO nanowall (NW) structures were prepared with different surface roughnesses, wettability, and concentrations using an RF magnetron sputtering system. The thicknesses of ZnO NP and ZnO NW were approximately 300 and 620 nm, respectively, and ZnO NW had two diffraction directions of [0002] and [01-10] based on high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The ZnO NW structure demonstrated 99.9% antimicrobial inhibition against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Penicillium funiculosum, and no skin irritation was detected using experimental rabbits. Approximately 27.2 ± 3.0 μg L-1Zn ions were eluted from the ZnO NW film at 100 °C for 24 h, which satisfies the WHO guidelines for drinking water quality. Furthermore, the Vickers hardness and fracture toughness of ZnO NW films on stainless steel were enhanced by 11 and 14% compared to those of the parent stainless steel. Based on these results, ZnO NW films on STS316L sheets are useful for household supplies, such as water pipes, faucets, and stainless steel containers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Hongik University, 94 Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea.|GS Engineering and Construction, Gran Seoul, 33 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03159, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyudae
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: GS Engineering and Construction, Gran Seoul, 33 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03159, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdellatif
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Hongik University, 94 Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eunsoo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Hongik University, 94 Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea. kim.dongkyun@hongik.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dongkyun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D010407:Penicillium / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D013193:Stainless Steel; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013499:Surface Properties; D017155:Wettability; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D060766:Drinking Water; D013193:Stainless Steel; D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Elution behavior; Mechanical properties; Skin irritation; Zinc oxide nanostructure