Phytogenically Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) Potentially Inhibit the Bacterial Pathogens: In Vitro Studies

The usefulness of nanoparticles (NPs) in biological applications, such as nanomedicine, is becoming more widely acknowledged. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are a type of metal oxide nanoparticle with an extensive use in biomedicine. Here, ZnO-NPs were synthesized using (L.) leaf extract and characterized using state-of-the-art techniques; UV-vis spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, and SEM. At sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels, the ability of ZnO@ -NPs to suppress quorum-mediated virulence factors and biofilm formation against clinical MDR isolates ( PAO1 and MCC-2290) was tested. The ½MIC of ZnO@ -NPs reduced violacein production by . Furthermore, ZnO@ -NPs sub-MIC significantly inhibited virulence factors such aspyoverdin, pyocyanin, elastase, exoprotease, rhamnolipid, and the swimming motility of PAO1 by 76.9, 49.0, 71.1, 53.3, 89.5, and 60%, respectively. Moreover, ZnO@ -NPs also showed wide anti-biofilm efficacy, inhibiting a maximum of 67 and 56% biofilms in and , respectively. In addition, ZnO@ -NPs suppressed extra polymeric substances (EPS) produced by isolates. Additionally, under confocal microscopy, propidium iodide-stained cells of and show ZnO@ -NP-induced impairment in membrane permeability, revealing strong anti-bacterial efficacy. This research demonstrates that newly synthesized ZnO@ -NPs demonstrate a strong efficacy against clinical isolates. In a nutshell, ZnO@ -NPs can be used as an alternative therapeutic agent for managing pathogenic infections.