Antibiofilm Activity of MnO2/MgO Nanocomposite Synthesized by Nonthermal Plasma

Background: Non-thermal plasma (NTP) is a partially ionized gas that generates reactive species at near-ambient temperatures without causing significant thermal effects. NTP devices have been developed through advances in plasma physics research. The reactive species produced by NTP can be used to synthesize biological nanomaterials and improve human health. Objective: This study presents the synthesis of a nanocomposite using a plasma jet technique for antibiofilm activity, a method considered environmentally friendly. Methods: The physical properties of the MnO2/MgO nanocomposite were characterized using various analytical techniques. Results: Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis confirmed the purity of the synthesized sample, detecting only Mn, Mg, and O elements corresponding to the nanocomposite. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis verified the crystal structure, revealing an average crystallite size of 64 nm composed of cubic and hexagonal phases. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy confirmed the presence of active functional groups. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images showed an irregular, porous morphology with a sponge-like continuous surface formed by aggregated fine grains. The ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectra showed that the MnO2/MgO nanocomposite had an energy band gap of 4.7 eV and strong absorption at 222 nm. The nanocomposite exhibited high susceptibility to biofilm-forming Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusions: This research offers promising advancements in biosafety standards and may reduce the risk of nosocomial infections in hospital and industrial environments.