The Application of Antimicrobial Nano‐ZnO Nanocoatings as the Surface of Cell Culture Dish

ABSTRACT Cell culture is an indispensable technique in biological research. However, cultured cells are vulnerable to microbial contamination, leading to unreliable and unrepeatable research data. Penicillin‐streptomycin, a common preventive measure, can significantly affect gene expression and regulation in cells. This study aims to develop a photocatalytic antimicrobial and biocompatible film for cell culture dish surfaces. Zinc oxide nanocoatings, synthesized by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on the surface of indium tin oxide (ITO) glass, exhibit strong, robust adhesion. We introduced an antibiotic‐free cell culture system utilizing ALD‐engineered ZnO nanocoatings. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), x‐ray diffraction (XRD), x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveal a smooth surface and simple composition of the ZnO film. The ZnO nanofilms exhibited potent antimicrobial activity, achieving a bacterial lethality rate of 98.3% under visible light ( λ = 336 nm) within 30 min. Remarkably, these coatings sustained biocompatibility over three successive cell passages, as evidenced by unaltered proliferation rates ( p > 0.05) and preserved cytoskeletal architecture in HeLa cells. Furthermore, ZnO nanocoatings retain their exceptional properties even after five successive generations of cell culture, leading to a 60% reduction in plastic waste compared to conventional Petri dishes. This study suggests that ZnO nanocoatings could be a promising solution to reduce contamination and antibiotic use on cell culture surfaces.