Mesoporous titania coating: determination of its physicochemical properties and yeast behaviour

CATALANO, PN; DESIMONE, MF; MORCILLO MF; BELLINO, MG; TUTTOLOMONDO MV; SOLER-ILLIA, GJAA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; SLAP; 2018

We have synthesized titania mesoporous films usingtitanium (IV) chloride as sol-gel precursor and surfactants from Pluronics® (Pluronic F-127, POE-POP-POE) and Brij ? series(B96 y B58, alquil-POE) that act like molds for pore size and distribution. Nanotopographyis known to be key for adhesion and cellular growth. In this experiment, wedemonstrate that nanotopography is also determinant for proliferation ofeukaryotic microorganisms such as Candidaalbicans (ATCC 10231). We cultivated the microorganism in the presence ofthe films, the films derivatized with APTES ((3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane)and the films derivatized with APTES and then doped with CuCl2 (aknown fungicide). Results show that mesoporous films prepared with Brij-96 presentedthe best outcome in regards of controlling cellular proliferation. We also characterizedthe mesoporous films by performing a scratch essay, which determines damageresistance of the material, and a contact angle assay. Results showed thatevery film tested can resist up to 40N without tearing and the contact angle, thatdetermines superficial hydrophilicity, allowed us to establish that the coatingmade with Brij-96 is the least hydrophilic coating of all. This is inaccordance with minor cellular proliferation results using this surface. We observedour films through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and demonstrate that filmsderivatized with APTES or with APTES-CuCl2 did not change theoriginal nanotopography of the coating. Lastly, we did an EDS (Energy-dispersiveX-ray spectroscopy) essay toratify the presence of Ti in all of the films, C and N in the ones derivatizedwith APTES, and C, N and Cu in the ones derivatized with APTES-CuCl2.