Assessing the anti-fungal efficiency of filters coated with zinc oxide nanoparticles.

ABSTRACT: Air filters support fungal growth, leading to generation of conidia and volatile organic compounds, causing allergies, infections and food spoilage. Filters that inhibit fungi are therefore necessary. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have anti-fungal properties and therefore are good candidates for inhibiting growth. Two concentrations (0.012 M and 0.12 M) were used to coat two types of filters (melt-blown and needle-punched) for three different periods (0.5, 5 and 50 min). Rhizopus stolonifer and Penicillium expansum isolated from spoiled pears were used as test organisms. Conidial suspensions of 10⁵ to 10³ spores ml^-1 were prepared in Sabouraud dextrose agar at 50°C, and a modified slide-culture technique was used to test the anti-fungal prope

SUBMITTER: Decelis S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5451796 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature