Inorganic metal oxides may serve as effective disinfectants, due to their relatively non-toxic profile, chemical stability and efficient antibacterial activity. However zinc iron oxide nanoparticles in aqueous media tend to aggregate into large flocculates, due to their hydrophobic nature, and thus do not interact with microorganisms effectively. In this study, zinc iron oxide was combined with iron oxide to produce magnetic composite nanoparticles with improved colloidal aqueous stability, together with adequate antibacterial activity.

Zinc Iron oxide nanoparticles have attracted much consideration due to their unique properties, such as efficient antibacterial activity, surface-to-volume ratio, greater surface area, and easy separation methodology. Various physical, chemical, and biological methods have been adopted to synthesize Zinc iron oxide nanoparticles with suitable surface chemistry.

Zinc iron oxide nanoparticles are an essential ingredient of many enzymes, sunscreens, and ointments for pain and itch relief. Its microcrystals are very efficient light absorbers in the UVA and UVB region of spectra due to wide-bandgap. the Impact of zinc oxide on biological functions depends on its morphology, particle size, exposure time, concentration, pH, and biocompatibility.

Zinc Iron oxide nanoparticles are more active against gram-positive bacteria relative to other NPs of the same group of elements. Ready to eat food is more prone to infection by Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli which pose a great challenge to food safety and quality. The antimicrobial compounds are incorporated in the packed food to prevent them from damage. Antimicrobial packaging contains a nontoxic material that inhibits or slows down the growth of microbes present in food or packaging material. Zinc oxide nanoparticle is one such inorganic metal oxide which fulfills all the above requirements, and hence, it can safely be used as a medicine, a preservative in packaging, and an antimicrobial agent