title: Visible light-induced antibacterial activity of metaloxide nanoparticles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article was to review studies that use visible light instead of dangerous ultraviolet (UV) radiation, for inducing antibacterial properties in metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Metal oxide NPs such as ZnO, CuO, and TiO2 are frequently studied for their antibacterial effects, based on their capability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in their water suspensions, following UV light absorption.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research articles on shifting metal oxide NPs absorption into the visible light region, published up to 2011, were retrieved from library sources, as well as PubMed and MEDLINE(®) databases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The studies indicated that doping metaloxide NPs with transition metals ions, or attaching the metal oxide nanoparticles to an organic molecule, enhanced their activity in the visible and near infrared (NIR) range. Moreover, ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles were found to have an absorption peak in UV-A, with a marked absorption in the blue region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to extend the absorption region of metal oxide NPs to the red/NIR, increasing their antibacterial activity without inducing damage to tissues and cells.
authors: 1 Department of Chemistry, Kanbar Laboratory for Nanomaterials, Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University , Ramat-Gan, Israel .
authors: Anat
authors: A
authors: Lipovsky
authors: Aharon
authors: A
authors: Gedanken
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Lubart
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D055668:Photochemical Processes / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium; D015034:Zinc Oxide