Antibacterial Efficacy of Zinc and Zirconium Based Metal Organic Frameworks against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics, affecting both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, remains a major challenge. Zn-MOF and Zr-MOF offer promising antibacterial properties through metal ion release and membrane disruption. In this research, Zn-MOF and Zr-MOF were synthesized using the solvothermal method and antibacterial tests were carried out. The solids formed were then characterized using ATR-FTIR, XRD and SEM. The results of analysis using ATR-FTIR show that the Zn-MOF functional groups appear at wavelengths 3666-3036 cm-1(vO-H), 1587 cm-1 (v-OCO-sym), 1392 cm-1 (v-OCO-asym), 837 cm-1 (vC-H), 748cm-1 (vC=C) and 651cm-1(vZn-O) while the Zr-MOF functional group appears at a wavelength of 3658-3174 cm-1 (vO-H), 1562cm-1 (v-OCO-sym), 1390cm-1 (v-OCO-asym), 823cm-1 (vC-H), 742cm-1 (vC=C) and 563cm-1 (vZr-O). The results of XRD analysis show that the characteristic peak of Zn-MOF is at 20 6.8°; 9.6°; 13.72°; 15.44°; 20.6° while the distinctive peak of Zr-MOF is shown at 20 7.32°; 8.48°; 11.9°; 14.0°; 14.6°; and 17.0°. Meanwhile, SEM results show that Zn-MOF has a cubic surface structure while Zr-MOF has aggregated particles with an irregular round shape. The results of the antibacterial test for Staphylococcus aureus showed that Zn-MOF (38.9 ± 1 mm) had a largest zone of inhibition, equivalent to the results of the antibacterial test for Escherichia coli showing that Zn-MOF (36.2±1 mm) has a largest zone of inhibition.