Hydrothermal Generation of 3-Dimensional WO3 Nanocubes, Nanobars and Nanobricks, Their Antimicrobial and Anticancer Properties

In our current endeavor, 3-dimensional (3D) tungsten oxide (WO 3 ) nanostructures (nanocubes, nanobars and nanobricks) have been swiftly generated via hydrothermal route at 160 °C for 24 h. Physico-chemical characterization of the resultant powder revealed formation of WO 3 nanostructures with predominantly faceted cube, brick and rectangular bar-like morphology. The present study was also aimed at exploring the antimicrobial and anticancer potential of WO 3 nanostructures. Antimicrobial activity was tested against different micro-organisms viz., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Aspergillus fumigatus . The antibacterial and antifungal activity was ascertained against these micro-organisms by measuring the diameter of inhibition zone in agar well diffusion test which revealed that the resultant WO 3 nanostructures acted as excellent antibacterial agents against both bacteria and fungi but were more effective against the fungus, A. fumigatus . To examine the growth curves of bacterial cells, time kill assay was monitored for E. coli , against which significant antibacterial action of WO 3 nanostructures was noted. The anti-cancer activity of WO 3 nanostructures was found to be concentration-dependent against KB cell line by viable cell count method. In our pilot study, WO 3 nanostructures suspension with concentration in the range of 10 −1 to 10 −5 mg/ml was found to kill KB cells effectively.