%0 Journal Article %T Influence of particle size of nano zinc oxide on the controlled delivery of Amoxicillin %A L. Palanikumar %A S. Ramasamy %A G. Hariharan %A C. Balachandran %J Applied Nanoscience %@ 2190-5517 %D 2013 %I %R 10.1007/s13204-012-0141-5 %X A great effort has been exerted to develop drug carriers aiming at satisfying the requirements, such as safety, greater efficiency, predictable therapeutic response, and prolonged release period. The present study aims at developing the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles as a carrier as a function of particle size for amoxicillin drug delivery system. The amoxicillin-loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles have a good antibacterial activity against infectious Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Zinc oxide nanoparticles have been prepared by wet chemical precipitation method varying the pH values. Particle size and morphology of the as-prepared ZnO powders are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope. Drug loading, in vitro drug release and antibacterial activity have been analyzed. Maximum zone of inhibition is observed for Staphylococcus epidermis. The results show that inhibitory efficacy of drug-loaded ZnO nanoparticles is very much dependent on its chosen concentration, drug loading, and size. %K Amoxicillin %K ZnO nanoparticles %K Controlled release %K Antibacterial activity %U http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13204-012-0141-5