Abstract
In recent years, nosocomial infections and antibiotic resistance are major public health problems. Nanotechnology should open new avenues to treat and prevent diseases. In this research work, iron-doped tin dioxide (Fe-SnO2) nanoparticles have been synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the formation of nanocrystalline SnO2 single phase with Fe favoring grain growth, the crystallite size increases from 13 up to 29 nm. FT-infrared spectroscopy analysis shows the presence of peaks characteristic of the SnO2 phase. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy analysis indicates Fe doping induces red-shift of SnO2 bandgap. Morphological observations by scanning electron microscopy reveal randomly arranged irregular-sized compact grains with sponge-like microstructure. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis (EDX) confirms the purity of Fe-doped SnO2. Bacteria produce siderophores capable of capturing iron, a necessary nutrient. For this reason, SnO2 has been doped particularly with Fe to facilitate the entry of nanoparticles into the bacterial cell and improve its antibacterial activity. Fe-SnO2 nanoparticles exhibit significant antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities against all tested microorganisms; it is found that biofilm eradication of the tested strains is higher than 90%. The fabricated Fe-SnO2 nanopowders have potential as antiseptics and disinfectants that will eliminate, kill, or inactivate microorganisms usually found on inert surfaces such as soil, walls, medical-surgical equipment, to prevent nosocomial infections in hospitals.