{
  "abstract": "ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized through a bio-assisted route using a hydroalcoholic extract of Tradescantia spathacea Sw., a plant previously reported to exhibit antimicrobial activity. Zinc acetate dihydrate [Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O] was used as the precursor, and the resulting materials were subjected to different thermal treatments (room temperature, 50, 100, 200, and 500 °C) to evaluate changes in their physicochemical and biological properties. The samples were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N2 adsorption–desorption, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and zeta-potential measurements. Their interaction with 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) under dark conditions was also evaluated as a molecular probe of the solid-solution interfacial environment. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against bacterial and fungal microorganisms, while anti-virulence activity was evaluated through the inhibition of swarming motility in Proteus mirabilis 884. FT-IR analysis showed that organic species derived from the extract remained in the materials treated between room temperature and 200 °C, whereas these contributions disappeared after treatment at 500 °C. XRD confirmed the formation of the hexagonal wurtzite ZnO structure in all samples, while SEM revealed changes in morphology from agglomerated flake-like structures toward more defined particles. Zeta-potential measurements showed distinct negative electrokinetic behavior among the materials, indicating differences in their interfacial surface environments. In addition, contact with 4-NP modified its protonation equilibrium and produced spectral changes compatible with surface-mediated oxidative transformations under dark conditions. The ZnO materials exhibited antimicrobial activity, with a MIC of 320 μg/mL against P. mirabilis 884, and markedly inhibited its swarming motility, reaching more than 96% inhibition for one sample at 24 and 48 h. Overall, the results indicate that the bio-assisted synthesis modifies the surface properties of ZnO and support a surface-mediated mechanism in which changes in the interfacial microenvironment and oxidative processes may contribute to microbial inhibition.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "División Académica de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Carretera Cunduacán-Jalpa Km. 0.5, Cunduacán 86690, Mexico",
    "División de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Popular de la Chontalpa, Carretera Cárdenas-Huimanguillo Km. 2 S/N, Ranchería, Invitab Paso y Playa, Heroica, Cárdenas 86556, Mexico",
    "División Académica Multidisciplinaria de Jalpa de Méndez, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Carretera Estatal Libre Villahermosa Comalcalco Km. 27 S/N, Ranchería Rivera Alta, Jalpa de Méndez 86205, Mexico",
    "División Académica de Ingeniería y Arquitectura, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Carretera Cunduacán-Jalpa Km. 0.5, Cunduacán 86690, Mexico",
    "Chemical and Biological Department, Science School, Universidad de las Américas Puebla. Ex hacienda Sta. Catarina Mártir S/N. San Andrés Cholula, Puebla 72810, Mexico",
    "Laboratorio de Innovación y Materiales Aplicados, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla 72570, Mexico",
    "Department of Chemistry and Physics, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL 33965, USA",
    "Investigadoras e Investigadores por México—Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Av. Lázaro Cárdenas s/n. Col. La Haciendita, Chilpancingo 39070, Mexico"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 13,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jesús López-García"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Eric Medrano-Sánchez",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2447-7036"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ricardo López-Rodríguez"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ever Blé-González",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5339-9578"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Ammy Gallegos-García",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6712-6765"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Nelly Aguilar-Sánchez",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5699-249X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "María Escalante-Pérez",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2964-4240"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Felipe Córdova-Lozano",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7517-1953"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Gerardo Córdova-Pérez",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3239-3334"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Alejandro Bugarin",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8504-355X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Patricia Álvarez-Fitz",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9552-3933"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Adrián Cervantes-Uribe"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Abraham Gómez-Rivera",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7528-4082"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0tr1f7agpgzre.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/nano16211366",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "0tr1f7agpgzre",
  "issns": [
    "2079-4991"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/16/21/1366",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2505|Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223931191",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-26",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0tr1f7agpgzre.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:45Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/nano16211366",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/16/21/1366"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2505|Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Thermal Processing as a Key Factor in the Surface Chemistry and Preliminary Antimicrobial Activity of ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Tradescantia spathacea Sw., Extract",
  "title_text": "Thermal Processing as a Key Factor in the Surface Chemistry and Preliminary Antimicrobial Activity of ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Tradescantia spathacea Sw., Extract",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:45Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0tr1f7agpgzre",
  "venue": "Nanomaterials",
  "versions": []
}