Tunable anti-biofilm activity of Zn-doped CuO nanoparticles: structural, morphological, and biological insights against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

Key Points

• The aim is to investigate the anti-biofilm activity of Zn-doped CuO nanoparticles against different bacterial strains.
• Characterization of Zn-doped CuO nanoparticles regarding structural and morphological properties.
• Assessment of anti-biofilm activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
• Analysis of ion release and reactive oxygen species generation linked to bacterial interactions.
• Zn-doped CuO nanoparticles showed significant anti-biofilm activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
• The response varied by bacterial strain, suggesting a strain-specific mechanism of action.
• Mechanisms of action include nanoparticle-surface interactions and ion release.