Visible light-responsive core-shell structured In₂O₃@CaIn₂O₄ photocatalyst with superior bactericidal properties and biocompatibility.
Antibacterial activity of photocatalytic substrates is primarily induced by ultraviolet light irradiation. Visible light-responsive photocatalysts were recently discovered, offering greater opportunity to use photocatalysts as disinfectants in our living environment. The development of antibacterial photocatalysts, however, has mainly focused on titanium oxide (TiO(2))-related materials with antibacterial properties not comparable with conventional chemical disinfectants. This study demonstrated that a core-shell structured In(2)O(3)@CaIn(2)O(4) substrate has superior visible light-induced bactericidal properties, as compared with several commercially available and laboratory-prepared visible light-responsive photocatalysts. The high performance is enhanced by more easily photoexcited electron transfer between the interfaces of In(2)O(3) and CaIn(2)O(4) to minimize the electron-hole recombination during photocatalysis. Additionally, when compared with TiO(2)-based photocatalysts, In(2)O(3)@CaIn(2)O(4) treatments did not induce significant cell death and tissue damage, implying a superior biocompatibility. These findings suggest that In(2)O(3)@CaIn(2)O(4) may have potential application in the development of a safer and highly bactericidal photocatalyst.


BACKGROUND
A photocatalytic susbstrate is described that functions in visible light, possesses bactericidal properties and better biocompatibility than the standard TiO(2) based methods.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Dong-Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Wen-Ku
WK
Chang
Der-Shan
DS
Sun
Hao
H
Chan
Pai-Tsang
PT
Huang
Wen-Shiang
WS
Wu
Ching-Hui
CH
Lin
Yao-Hsuan
YH
Tseng
Yi-Hung
YH
Cheng
Chun-Chieh
CC
Tseng
Hsin-Hou
HH
Chang
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002384:Catalysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D007204:Indium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008027:Light; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods; D010789:Phototherapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004202:Disinfectants; D007204:Indium; C009495:titanium dioxide; C047711:indium oxide; D014025:Titanium; D002119:Calcium Carbonate