Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Applied Nanoscience https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-019-00996-5 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Enhanced engineered ZnO nanostructures and their antibacterial activity against urinary, gastrointestinal, respiratory and dermal genital infections Zahra Fakhroueian 1  · Fatemeh Katouzian 2  · Pegah Esmaeilzadeh 3  · Soheila Moradi Bidhendi 4  · Pouriya Esmaeilzadeh 5 Received: 11 December 2018 / Accepted: 25 February 2019 © King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2019 Abstract Antimicrobial efect of nano-metal oxides especially ZnO NPs and their potent nanofuids against microorganisms have been studied in vitro conditions for years. Here, three kinds of gram-negative and eight gram-positive bacteria were applied investi- gating minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration and well-difusion method of ZnO nanofuids against these pathogens. Gentamycin and nalidixic acid were then used as strong references in inhibition zone results. In this study, four diferent formulations of ZnO nanofuids containing various ZnO NPs (as basic scafold framework) along with several efective chemical reagents in nanofuids were fabricated, whereas the best matched nanoformulation was very promising against Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. In such nanoformulation, the surface of ZnO NPs was functionalized or engineered with CNT-amine, and then formulated with ecofriendly ZnO nanopolymer (ZnO/PVP). The formulated ZnO/PVP could perform as a synergism co-assistant in fnal energetic nanofuid throughout the antibacterial activity tests. Final nanofuid was successfully contacted with interface of diferent bacteria cell membrane such as nosocomial, skin, urinary and bronchial in comparison with the controls. This new bioflm could create potential antimicrobial agents when ZnO nanofuid surround the bacteria and produce a new complex–matrix structure. Such event further disturbs reactive oxygen conductivity and efectively suppressed bacteria viability leading eventually to necrotic cell death. The high resistance in this long bioprocess system, provided special strong surface energy and powerful efectiveness of ZnO NPs in granting antimicrobial coating properties that make this formulation a new research opportunity for various industries addressing medical tissue engineering. Keywords ZnO nanofuids · Surface coating · Cell surface engineering · Antimicrobial activity · Nosocomial infections · Enterococcus faecalis · Smart surface modifcation · Bacteriostatic * Zahra Fakhroueian fakhroueian@ut.ac.ir 1 School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, IPE, University of Tehran, P. O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran, Iran 2 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAUPS), Tehran 193956466, Iran 3 Biomedical Materials Group, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle Wittenberg, Heinrich Damerow Strasse 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany 4 Department of Microbiology, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj 3197619751, Iran 5 Chemical Engineering, Oil and Gas College, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Narmak, Tehran 16765-163, Iran