Environmentally Friendly Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Fructose as a Carbohydrate Agent: Investigation of Photocatalytic Degradation, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Activities

In recent years, the production of nanoparticles through eco-friendly methods has garnered considerable attention due to its potential to reduce environmental impacts. This study focuses on the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using fructose as a green, carbohydrate-based precursor. The process involved dissolving zinc nitrate in distilled water, followed by the addition of fructose in a 1:1 molar ratio and adjusting the pH to an alkaline level to facilitate nanoparticle formation. Characterization through TEM, DLS, FT-IR, and XRD confirmed the formation of spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 40–55 nm. The photocatalytic efficiency of the ZnO NPs was evaluated through the degradation of penicillin G, achieving an 88.4% degradation rate under optimized conditions (nanocatalyst concentration of 0.8 g/l, pH 5, and antibiotic concentration of 15 ppm). In addition, these nanoparticles exhibited substantial antioxidant potential, with 77% inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) at a concentration of 4000 µg/ml. The antibacterial properties were assessed against various bacterial strains, revealing significant activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 500 and 500 µg/ml for Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae as Gram-negative bacteria, and 2000 to 4000 µg/ml for Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis as Gram-positive bacteria. Notably, the ZnO NPs demonstrated enhanced efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria, likely due to their thinner cell walls, which facilitate more effective interactions with the nanoparticles. These findings underscore the promising applications of fructose-mediated ZnO NPs in photocatalysis and as antibacterial agents in biomedical fields.