Studies in the literature have shown that ZnO nanoparticles [19 (link), 20 (link)], HSP [20 (link)–22 (link)], and PVA [16 (link)] exhibit antimicrobial activity. For these reasons, the antibacterial activities of the only synthesized nanocomposites were investigated in the present study. The results obtained were interpreted by comparing them with the antibacterial activities of the ZnO, HSP, and PVA mentioned in the literature.
The antibacterial activity of nanocomposites was determined by the disc diffusion method. For this, three 10-mm-diameter discs were created for each of the synthesized nanocomposites. The Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25,923) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25,922) bacterial strains used in the study were enriched in peptone water. Suspensions were prepared at an average concentration of 106–107 CFU/mL by counting via the serial dilution method. Afterwards, incubation was carried out using 1 mL Petri dishes containing 25 mL Mueller-Hilton agar (Oxoid CM337). One day later, the prepared nanocomposite discs and the antibiotic (moxifloxacin, Oxoid) disc used for the control were placed in Petri dishes and incubated for 24 h at 37 °C in an oven. At the end of the incubation, the zones of inhibition (mm) formed around each disc were measured [23 (link)].