Preparation, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

Manganese oxide nanoparticles (Mn₃O₄-NPs) were prepared using precipitation method. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by a number of techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transforms infra red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The XRD pattern showed that the structure of Mn₃O₄-NPs was tetragonal hausmannite. The average particle size, revealed by TEM images, has been about 10-30 nm. The antibacterial activities of various concentrations of Mn₃O₄-NPs against human pathogenic bacteria, mainly <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Staphylococcus aureus </em>have been studied using the Broth Microdilution Method. The antibacterial assay showed that the Mn₃O₄-NPs prepared in this work inhibited the growth and multiplication of these tested microorganisms. The results of qualitative antibacterial tests revealed that gram negative bacteria (<em>E. coli</em>) were more sensitive to Mn₃O₄-NPs than gram positivebacteria(<em>S. aureus</em>).