A comparative analysis of bactericidal efficacy of molybdenum oxide nanoparticles against pathogenic bacteria

The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria has created an urgent need for alternative antimicrobial agents beyond conventional antibiotics. In this context, we report a novel approach for developing molybdenum oxide (MoO₃) nanoparticles (NPs) with potent bactericidal activity. Unlike earlier studies that merely explored Mo-based materials in limited applications, our work highlights the synthesis of MoO₃ NPs via a modified sol–gel method and establishes their superior antibacterial performance through a systematic comparison with twelve widely used commercial antibiotics. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization (XRD, UV–Vis., FTIR, and TEM) confirmed the nanoscale morphology and purity of the synthesized material. The antibacterial efficacy of MoO₃ NPs was evaluated against clinically relevant Gram-positive ( Enterococcus faecalis ) and Gram-negative ( Klebsiella pneumoniae and Vibrio vulnificus ) pathogens using Zone of Inhibition (ZoI), optical density (OD), and Colony-Forming Unit (CFU) assays. Remarkably, the MoO₃ NPs exhibited broad-spectrum activity with inhibition efficiencies comparable to or exceeding those of several standard antibiotics (hexa disks HX-022 and HX-034), underscoring their potential as a next-generation germicidal material. These findings open new avenues for integrating MoO₃ NPs into food preservation, textile treatments, and water purification systems to address the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. MoO 3 nanoparticles were synthesized using a modified Sol-gel process, and their potential antibacterial properties against three bacterial strains were investigated. The antibacterial activity of MoO 3 NPs was compared to twelve standard antibiotics. • MoO 3 NPs were synthesized by a modified Sol-gel method. • Antibacterial activity was tested against three bacterial strains. • Antibacterial activity was compared with 12 standard antibiotics. • ZoI, CFU, and OD were comparable to standard antibiotics.