ZnO nanorods produced sonochemically prevented microbial growth, biofilm formation and were nontoxic to mammalian cells. E. coli B. subtilis 0 5 90 92 94 96 98 100Inactive bacteria (%) 2h 5h control 2h 5h control Sonochemical production of ZnO nanorodsIn this study, we present a simple, fast and cost-effective sonochemical growth method for the synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods. ZnO nanorods were grown on glass substrates at room temperature without the addition of surfactants. The successful coating of substrates with ZnO nanorods were demonstrated by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and 10 energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Antimicrobial properties of ZnO nanorods against the planktonic Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli and their respective biofilms were investigated. The cytotoxicity of ZnO nanorods were evaluated using the NIH 3T3 mammalian fibroblast cell line. Moreover, to understand the possible mechanisms of ZnO nanorod toxicity, glutathione oxidation, superoxide production, and release of Zn 2+ ions by the ZnO nanorods were determined, and the 15 LIVE/DEAD assay was employed to investigate cell membrane damage. The results showed that sonochemically grown ZnO nanorods exhibited significant antimicrobial effects to both bacteria and prevented biofilm formation. ZnO nanorods did not present any significant toxicity to fibroblast cells. The main anti-microbial mechanisms of ZnO nanorods were determined to be H 2 O 2 production and cell membrane disruption. 20

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