Abstract

BETANCUR HENAO, Claudia Patricia; HERNANDEZ MONTES, Vanessa  and  BUITRAGO SIERRA, Robison. Nanoparticles for antibacterial materials and titanium dioxide applications. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 2016, vol.35, n.4, pp. 387-402. ISSN 1561-3011.

The constant occurrence of multiresistant microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi) has increased the search for antibacterial materials that may be effective to be applied in various areas such as textile industry, animal feeding, water treatment, medical, drug and cosmetic industry. It is well known that inorganic antibacterial agents as silver, copper, zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles have attired special attention in the course of time due to their stability and the absence of biosafety problems. Despite this, just recently, have the titanium dioxide nanoparticles been gaining more attention for biomedical application, since these particles become antibacterial agents through a process of photo-activation and present absorption of certain wavelengths depending on their inorganic phase (anatase, rutile or brookite). Nevertheless, the photocatalytic activity of the titanium dioxide ranges in the UV zone ((?>387nm), and this has required greater efforts in terms of research, to make the titanium dioxide have the auto-disinfection function in the visible light zone, so as to increase the number of uses in the biomedical industry. This article was aimed at making a critical literature review on the use of nanoparticles for antibacterial materials, and the applications of titanium dioxide, thus making emphasis on the mechanism of action of these particles with the biological systems and the possible changes with a view to improving its photocatalytic activity by means of the interaction with the visible light.

Keywords : antibacterial materials; nanoparticles; titanium dioxide; photocatalytic activity.

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