Antimicrobial polymers: Antibacterial efficacy of silicone rubber?titanium dioxide composites

VERA SEITZ; ERICH WINTERMANTEL; BETIANA FELICE; CHRISTIN RAPP; MAXIMILIAN BACH

JOURNAL OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS

SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD

Lugar: London; Año: 2016

0021-9983

Control and reduction of microorganism infections in high-risk environments is up to date a challenge. Traditionaltechniques imply several limitations including development of antibiotics resistance and ecotoxicity. Then, polymersfunctionalized with photocatalyts arise as a promising solution against a broad spectrum of microorganisms found at,e.g. sanitary, food, and medical environments. Here, we present silicone rubber?TiO2 composites as novel antibacterialpolymers. Four different types of composites with different TiO2 contents were produced and analyzed under UVirradiation and dark conditions in terms of particle distribution, chemical composition, photocatalytic activity, wettability,and antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli. Under UV irradiation, antibacterial sensitivity assay showed a 1000 timesreduction of colony forming units after 2 h of light exposure so that the antibacterial ability of silicone?TiO2 compositeswas proved. Photocatalytic activity assessment suggested that reactive oxygen species induced by photocatalytic reactionat TiO2 particles are the main cause of the observed antibacterial effect. Scanning electron microscopy indicated notopographical damage after UV exposure. In addition, chemical analysis through Raman and X-Ray photoelectronspectroscopies demonstrated the stability of the silicone matrix under UV irradiation. Hence, the current work presentssilicone?TiO2 composites as stable nonspecific antibacterial polymers for prevention of infections at multiple high-riskenvironments.