Photocatalytic Antibacterial Capabilities of TiO2−Biocidal Polymer Nanocomposites Synthesized by a Surface-Initiated Photopolymerization

• Published in: Environmental science & technology 2010-07, Vol.44 (14), p.5672-5676
• Main Authors: Kong, Hyeyoung, Song, Jooyoung, Jang, Jyongsik
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Energy and the Environment
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es1010779

Novel biocidal polymer-functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by surface-initiated photopolymerization using titania as an initiator. Vinyl monomer mixtures of nontoxic secondary amine-containing biocidal 2-(tert-butylamino)ethyl methacrylate and antifouling ethylene glycol dimethacrylate were used for the antimicrobial polymer shell. It was shown that the synthesized TiO2/poly[2-(tert-butylamino)ethyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate] core/shell nanoparticles had enhanced photocatalytic antibacterial properties compared to the pristine TiO2 nanoparticles due to the combined antibacterial activities of light-driven anti-infective TiO2 core and biocidal polymer shell. In the dark condition, the TiO2/biocidal polymer nanoparticles exhibited high antimicrobial efficiency (95.7%) against gram-positive S. aureus. Furthermore, during UV irradiation, the TiO2/biocidal polymer showed improved inhibition of bacterial growth against gram-negative E. coli and gram-positive S. aureus in comparison to the pristine TiO2 nanoparticles.