The Future of Antimicrobial Surfaces: Development of Super Hydrophobic and Self-Cleaning ZnO/PVP Composite Coatings

This paper presents the sustainable and eco-friendly biogenic Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles synthesized using the fruit extract of Anthocephalus cadamba integrated over the PVP matrix to create a nanocomposite. These nanocomposites are found to be effective in creating the hydrophobic antimicrobial surface. SEM images indicated ZnO's homogeneous distribution in polymeric PVP. The generated ZnO/PVP nanocomposite has a 15.4 nm crystallite size according to Scherrer's equation and XRD measurements. Microstructure thermal stability is important for applications that need temperature resistance. Hydrophobic surfaces made from the ZnO/PVP nanocomposite are self-cleaning and resilient to different temperatures. The outcome of XTT experiment indicated the antimicrobial activities of the nanocomposite against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, showing a dose-dependent reduction in the metabolic activity from 20 to 100 µg/mL. Confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) studies showed the nanocomposite's inhibitory propensity against P. aeruginosa biofilm, with maximum inhibition observed at 100 µg/mL. ZnO and PVP provide a robust, water-repellent coating with prospective applications in aerospace, automotive, and construction. This work presents a simple and cost-effective way to make lasting hydrophobic coatings that resist bacterial surface contamination, achieving a water contact angle of 98.6^° with three-layer deposition. Hence this paper discusses a novel concept of combining biogenic ZnO with PVP to create a single nanocomposite that offers hydrophobic, antibacterial, and antibiofilm properties.