Synthesis, properties and antibacterial activity of Ca doped Zn(2)SnO(4) nanoparticles by microwave assisted method

A major problem in world health care is the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. In light of this, pure and calcium-doped zinc tin oxide (ZTO) nanoparticles, Zn(2)SnO(4) (S(1)), Zn(2)Sn(0.7)Ca(0.3)O(4) (S(2)), Zn(2)Sn(0.5)Ca(0.5)O(4) (S(3)), and Zn(2)Sn(0.3)Ca(0.7)O(4) (S(4)), were synthesized via simple and cost effective microwave assisted method. The doping effect on antibacterial activity was studied in detail. The XRD spectrum revealed that all the deposited samples exhibited a spinel cubic structure. A decrease in crystallite size, an increase in strain and dislocation density was observed with an increase in Ca concentration. FESEM images exhibited an irregular and non-homogeneous nature with crystalline morphology having a physical dimension of nm size. EDAX confirmed the purity of deposited samples. We used the agar well diffusion technique to study the antibacterial activity of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The doping of the ZTO matrix with Ca ions increased its antibacterial performance by 99% against Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria, and its effectiveness was enhanced with increasing Ca ion concentration inside the Zn(2)SnO(4) nanoparticles.