Antibacterial study of CuO-NiO-ZnO trimetallic oxide nanoparticle.

• Co-precipitation method was used to synthesize CuO-NiO-ZnO trimetallic oxide NP. • Reductions in number of bacterial colonies show NPs are good antibacterial agents. • FESEM shows rupture of bacterial cell wall and leakage of intracellular components. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics has been a global concern. Metal oxide nanoparticles have emerged as effective antimicrobial agents. In this work, co-precipitation method was used to synthesize CuO-NiO-ZnO mixed metal oxide (MMO) nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray powder Diffraction (XRD) analysis which confirmed the formation of all three phases, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) analysis, Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–Visible Absorption Spectroscopy and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed the particle size distribution of nanoparticle. Bacterial growth curve, reduction in bacterial CFU (colony forming unit) and cell integrity study confirmed the antibacterial activity of MMO nanoparticle and showed detrimental effect against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains. Nanoparticle attachment to the bacterial cell wall and ultimate annihilation of the cell was observed in the FESEM study of interaction of bacterial cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]