Copper and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Experimental Considerations in their Application as Antimicrobial against

Author(s): Gemerlyn G Garcia, Paolo N Racraquin, Lilibeth L Gumpa, Danila S Paragas

The antimicrobial action of copper and zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by using neem leaf extract against Leptospira hyos was evaluated. The experiment involved cultivating L. hyos as a test bacterium in a medium supplemented with 8% serum and the application of different concentrations of the NPs as treatments. The synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticle was validated as shown by its absorption peak at a wavelength of 265 nm in UV-Visual spectroscopy while that of the zinc oxide nanoparticle registered an absorption peak at a wavelength of 270 nm. The efficiency of the copper and zinc nanoparticles as antimicrobials against L. hyos was related to the significant differences in the reduction of mean recovery counts expressed in McFarland units (MFUs) as an effect of NP concentration and duration of exposure time. Result of the study led in the definition of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the copper and zinc oxide NPs at 10%. These data provide a basis in validating these nanoparticle preparations as potential agents for the control of leptospira infections in animal production settings.