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Updated: Nov 12, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Antibacterial Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Overcoming Antibiotic Resistance
Published on: September 27, 2024
A novel zinc complex with antibacterial and antioxidant activity
Yun Zhang1, Xiaojing Li1, Jia Li1
1Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and Immuno-Engineering of Henan Province, School of Pharmacy, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Medicinal Plants Utilization, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
Background:
In order to enhance the antibacterial activity and reduce the toxicity of Zn2+, novel complexes of Zn(II) were synthesized.
Results:
A water-soluble zinc-glucose-citrate complex (ZnGC) with antibacterial activity was synthesized at pH 6.5. The structure, morphology, characterization, acute toxicity, antibacterial and antioxidant activities, and in situ intestinal absorption were investigated. The results showed that zinc ion was linked with citrate by coordinate bond while the glucose was linked with it through intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The higher the molecular weight of sugar is, the more favorable it is to inhibit the formation of zinc citrate precipitation. Compared with ZnCl2, ZnGC complex presented better antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (E. coli, Gram-negative).
Conclusions:
The results of acute toxicity showed no obvious toxicity in this test and in situ intestinal absorption study, suggesting that ZnGC complex could be used as a potential zinc supplement for zinc deficiency.
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