Innovative Self-Cleaning and Biocompatible Polyester Textiles Nano-Decorated with Fe-N-Doped Titanium Dioxide.
The development of innovative technologies to modify natural textiles holds an important impact for medical applications, including the prevention of contamination with microorganisms, particularly in the hospital environment. In our study, Fe and N co-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles have been obtained via the hydrothermal route, at moderate temperature, followed by short thermal annealing at 400 °C. These particles were used to impregnate polyester (PES) materials which have been evaluated for their morphology, photocatalytic performance, antimicrobial activity against bacterial reference strains, and in vitro biocompatibility on human skin fibroblasts. Microscopic examination and quantitative assays have been used to evaluate the cellular morphology and viability, cell membrane integrity, and inflammatory response. All treated PES materials specifically inhibited the growth of Gram-negative bacilli strains after 15 min of contact, being particularly active againstPseudomonas aeruginosa. PES fabrics treated with photocatalysts did not affect cell membrane integrity nor induce inflammatory processes, proving good biocompatibility. These results demonstrate that the treatment of PES materials with TiO₂-1% Fe-N particles could provide novel biocompatible fabrics with short term protection against microbial colonization, demonstrating their potential for the development of innovative textiles that could be used in biomedical applications for preventing patients' accidental contamination with microorganisms from the hospital environment.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, 050095 Bucharest, Romania. cristinai.nica@gmail.com.
Ionela Cristina
IC
Nica
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, 050095 Bucharest, Romania. miruna.stan@bio.unibuc.ro.
Miruna Silvia
MS
Stan
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, 050095 Bucharest, Romania. anca.dinischiotu@bio.unibuc.ro.
Anca
A
Dinischiotu
Department of Botanic-Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 1-3 Aleea Portocalelor, 60101 Bucharest, Romania. bmarcelica@yahoo.com.|Research Institute of the University of Bucharest-ICUB, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, 050095 Bucharest, Romania. bmarcelica@yahoo.com.
Marcela
M
Popa
Department of Botanic-Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 1-3 Aleea Portocalelor, 60101 Bucharest, Romania. carmen.chifiriuc@gmail.com.|Research Institute of the University of Bucharest-ICUB, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, 050095 Bucharest, Romania. carmen.chifiriuc@gmail.com.
Mariana Carmen
MC
Chifiriuc
Department of Botanic-Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 1-3 Aleea Portocalelor, 60101 Bucharest, Romania. veronica.lazar2009@gmail.com.|Research Institute of the University of Bucharest-ICUB, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, 050095 Bucharest, Romania. veronica.lazar2009@gmail.com.
Veronica
V
Lazar
Research Institute of the University of Bucharest-ICUB, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, 050095 Bucharest, Romania. gratiela87@gmail.com.
Gratiela G
GG
Pircalabioru
Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, Greece. empezirt@agro.duth.gr.
Eugenia
E
Bezirtzoglou
National R & D Institute for Textiles and Leather Bucharest (INCDTP), 16 Lucretiu Patrascanu, 030508 Bucharest, Romania. iordacheovidiu.g@certex.ro.
Ovidiu G
OG
Iordache
National R & D Institute for Textiles and Leather Bucharest (INCDTP), 16 Lucretiu Patrascanu, 030508 Bucharest, Romania. elena.varzaru@certex.ro.
Elena
E
Varzaru
National R & D Institute for Textiles and Leather Bucharest (INCDTP), 16 Lucretiu Patrascanu, 030508 Bucharest, Romania. iuliana.dumitrescu@certex.ro.
Iuliana
I
Dumitrescu
National Institute of Materials Physics (NIMP), Atomistilor 405A, 077125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania. mfeder@infim.ro.
Marcel
M
Feder
National Institute of Materials Physics (NIMP), Atomistilor 405A, 077125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania. fvasiliu@infim.ro.
Florin
F
Vasiliu
National Institute of Materials Physics (NIMP), Atomistilor 405A, 077125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania. imercioniu@infim.ro.
Ionel
I
Mercioniu
National Institute of Materials Physics (NIMP), Atomistilor 405A, 077125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania. diamand@infim.ro.
Lucian
L
Diamandescu
antibacterial; photocatalyst; polyester textile; skin fibroblasts; titanium dioxide