Correlation between antibacterial activity and crystallite size on ceramics

• Published in: Chemical engineering science Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 355 - 361
• Main Authors: Ohira, Toshiaki, Yamamoto, Osamu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 22.01.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antibacterial activity; antibacterial properties; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Applied sciences; Biochemical engineering; Ceramics; Chemical engineering; Chemical processes; crystal structure; Crystallinity; Crystallite size; Crystallites; Escherichia coli; Exact sciences and technology; Magnesium oxide; Microstructure; Powders; Staphylococcus aureus; X-ray diffraction; Zinc oxide; Crystallite size; Antibacterial activity; Powders; Chemical processes; Microstructure; Biochemical engineering; Correlation; Escherichia coli; Crystallinity; X ray diffraction; Powder; Correlation analysis; Bacteria; Ceramic materials; Enterobacteriaceae
• ISSN: 0009-2509; 1873-4405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2011.09.043

Although the antibacterial activity of ceramics has been reported in many literatures, there are none that report on the significant relation between the crystallite size and antibacterial activity. The influence of the crystallite size on antibacterial activity of MgO and ZnO powder samples was investigated in the present study. The crystallinity of powder samples was determined by X-ray diffraction measurement. From Williamson–Hall plots calculated from obtained diffraction peaks, it was found that differences in crystallinity were dependent on the crystallite size. Antibacterial activity of the powder samples was examined by the colony count method, using Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The powder samples with a small crystallite size showed greater antibacterial activity than those with a large crystallite size. We found that the crystallite size affects the antibacterial activity of MgO and ZnO powder samples. ► We prepared MgO and ZnO powder samples having different crystallite sizes. ► We examined the antibacterial activity toward Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. ► Antibacterial effect was different between Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. ► Irrespective of kinds of powder samples, a smaller crystallite size showed greater antibacterial activity. ► We clarified that the antibacterial activity of MgO and ZnO powder samples was dependent on the crystallite size.