Evaluation of antibacterial and antioxidant potential of the zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized by aqueous and polyol method

In this paper, we have reported the synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of monodispersed Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles synthesized by the room temperature precipitation (aqueous phase) and polyol method (organic phase). ZnO nanoparticle synthesized by both the methods had shown excellent DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging, metal chelating (MC), ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis; 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical scavenging activity (SAS). Scavenging activities were assayed within a concentration range of 25–75 ng ml−1. The antibacterial activities with MIC were investigated against two Gram-positive bacteria Streptococcus mutans (MTCC 497) and S. pyogens (MTCC 1926); three Gram negative bacteria Vibrio cholerae (MTCC 3906), Shigella flexneri (MTCC 1457) and Salmonella typhii (MTCC 1252). ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by the polyol method showed better MIC values against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as compared to particles synthesized by aqueous precipitation method. Present study demonstrates the successful synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles with antioxidant property and significant broad spectrum antibacterial activity against several clinical bacterial pathogens. •ZnO nanoparticle was synthesized by polyol method and precipitation method.•The antibacterial and antioxidant properties of the synthesized nanoparticle were studied.•ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by the polyol method showed better MIC values against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as compared to particles synthesized by aqueous precipitation method.