DOI: 10.29137/ijerad.1749871 ISSN: 1308-5514

Simple synthesis of multifunctional gelatin-capped zinc oxide nanoparticles for potential applications

Gökçe Ulaş, Zehra Gün Gök, Ayfer Koyuncu, Beste Çağdaş
Show PDF Cite
In this study, gelatin-capped zinc oxide nanoparticles (G-ZnONPs) were synthesized as antibacterial agents for polymeric materials using gelatin as both a stabilizing and reducing agent. G-ZnONPs were produced by heating Zn(NO3)2 with 2% gelatin under alkaline conditions, resulting in stable nanoparticles characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). UV-Vis analysis revealed a surface plasmon resonance peak at 360 nm, confirming Zn ion reduction by gelatin. The zeta potential and average size of G-ZnONPs were measured at -15.9±0.7 mV and 215.97±4.02 nm, respectively. FTIR confirmed Zn-O formation and gelatin encapsulation, while SEM and TEM images showed spherical morphology. EDS analysis detected Zn peaks, and XRD confirmed the hexagonal ZnO crystal structure. TGA demonstrated increased residual mass at 950 ºC, indicating ZnO formation. Antibacterial tests showed G-ZnONPs effectively inhibited Staphylococcus aureus growth, demonstrating stronger activity against gram-positive bacteria. Cytotoxicity testing on L929 fibroblasts revealed a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability at higher G-ZnONP concentrations. Overall, this simple, low-cost, and eco-friendly synthesis method yielded stable ZnONP solutions, suggesting significant potential for antimicrobial applications in biomedical and material science fields.

More from our Archive