Potent E. coli M‑17 Growth Inhibition by Ultrasonically Complexed Acetylsalicylic Acid−ZnO−Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

A single-step ultrasonic method (20 kHz) is demonstrated for the complexation of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)−ZnO− graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles with an average size of <70 nm in aqueous solution. ASA−ZnO−GO more e ffi ciently inhibits the growth of probiotic Escherichia coli strain M-17 and exhibits enhanced antioxidant properties than free ASA and ASA−ZnO in neutralization of hydroxyl radicals in the electro-Fenton process. This improved function of ASA in the ASA −ZnO GO can be attributed to the well-de fi ned cone-shaped morphology, the surface structure containing hydroxyl and carboxylate groups of ZnO−GO nanoparticles, which facilitated the complexation with ASA.