Antimicrobial Activity of Caffeic acid-functionalized ZnO Nanoparticles

The emergence of new infectious diseases, the resurgence of several infections that appeared to have been controlled and the increase in bacterial resistance have created the necessity for studies directed towards the development of new antimicrobials. In the present study, we have synthesized a novel antioxidant ZnO nanoparticle that is newly designed and prepared by simple surface modification process. Antioxidative functionality is provided by the immobilization of antioxidant 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoic acid (caffeic acid, CA) onto the surface of ZnO nanoparticles. Microstructure and physical properties of the ZnO@CA nanoparticles were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and steady state spectroscopic methods. Antimicrobial Activities of ZnO@CA nanoparticles were measured against various bacterial strains using antibacterial testing methods.