Mechanosynthesis and antimicrobial effect of nanostructured metal oxides

Abstract

In this article we present what we have done on the mechanosynthesis of a series of nanostructured oxides formed by CuO, CuBi2O4, ZnO, Mn3O4, Fe2O3, CuFe2O4, ZnFe2O4 and MgO, as well as a brief literature review on the applications of said oxides as antimicrobial agents. Despite the development of new antibiotics, some microorganisms become multiresistants, for this reason, new ways of combating them have been sought. The nanoparticles formed by metal oxides have turned out to be a new tool in the fight against diseases caused by microorganisms. Taking into account the future development and applications of nanostructured materials constituted by metal oxides, it is very important to develop clean, cheap synthesis methods that generate adequate quantities of them, under mild reaction conditions. In this sense, mechanosynthesis or mechanical activation could open new guidelines for obtaining new nanostructured materials with antimicrobial properties.