Photokilling of Escherichia coli Using Hybrid Titania Nanoparticles Suspended in an Aqueous Liquid

In this work, the photokilling of Escherichia coli using a “one-pot” synthesized suspension of anatase crystallized nanoparticles is evaluated. Preliminary to the biological tests concerning the antibacterial efficiency, the fabricated suspension, using a derived solgel process in soft chemistry condition, is characterized. Structural properties of the nanoparticles are investigated using Electronic Transmission Microscopy (TEM) equipped with Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) probe and X-ray diffraction. The inorganic solid content was evaluated by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Photodegradation of Acid Orange 7 in aqueous solution was used a probe to assess the photocatalytic activity of the elaborated suspension under UV irradiation. The photokilling of Escherichia coli in presence of hybrid TiO2 nanoparticles suspended in aqueous liquid under UV irradiation is evaluated. Such TiO2 nanoparticles suspension shows a strong bactericidal activity with the total destruction of bacteria after only one hour.