title: Antibacterial property of Ag nanoparticle-impregnated N-doped titania films under visible light.
abstract: Photocatalysts produce free radicals upon receiving light energy; thus, they possess antibacterial properties. Silver (Ag) is an antibacterial material that disrupts bacterial physiology. Our previous study reported that the high antibacterial property of silver nanoparticles on the surfaces of visible light-responsive nitrogen-doped TiO2 photocatalysts [TiO2(N)] could be further enhanced by visible light illumination. However, the major limitation of this Ag-TiO2 composite material is its durability; the antibacterial property decreased markedly after repeated use. To overcome this limitation, we developed TiO2(N)/Ag/TiO2(N) sandwich films in which the silver is embedded between two TiO2(N) layers. Various characteristics, including silver and nitrogen amounts, were examined in the composite materials. Various analyses, including electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum and methylene blue degradation rate analyses, were performed. The antibacterial properties of the composite materials were investigated. Here we revealed that the antibacterial durability of these thin films is substantially improved in both the dark and visible light, by which bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acinetobacter baumannii, could be efficiently eliminated. This study demonstrated a feasible approach to improve the visible-light responsiveness and durability of antibacterial materials that contain silver nanoparticles impregnated in TiO2(N) films.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan [2] Nanotechnology Research Center, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Show
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Che
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan [2] Research Center of Nanobiomedical Science, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Der-Shan
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: 1] Nanotechnology Research Center, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan [2] Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan [3] Research Center of Nanobiomedical Science, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Hou
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002384:Catalysis; D008027:Light; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C009495:titanium dioxide; D012834:Silver; D014025:Titanium; D009584:Nitrogen