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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Antibacterial Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Overcoming Antibiotic Resistance
Published on: September 27, 2024
White-Light-Activated Antibacterial Surfaces Generated by Synergy between Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Crystal Violet
Ekrem Ozkan1, Elaine Allan2, Ivan P Parkin1
1Materials Chemistry Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
The prevalence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria is a growing public health concern worldwide. Herein, a facile, easily scalable technique is reported to fabricate white-light-activated bactericidal surfaces by incorporating zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and crystal violet (CV) dye into poly(dimethylsiloxane). The effect of ZnO concentration on photobactericidal activity of CV is investigated, and we show that there is synergy between ZnO and CV. These materials showed highly significant antibacterial activity when tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli under white light conditions. These surfaces have potential to be used in healthcare environments to decrease the impact of HAIs.
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