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Antibacterial properties of fabrics impregnated with TiO2

Moira Ourania

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Summary

This undergraduate thesis presents an experimental investigation into the antibacterial properties of fabrics impregnated with Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂). The catalysts and textiles were prepared at the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL–FORTH, Heraklion) and the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova (Smart Materials and In Vivo Pharmacology Facility), respectively.The thesis is divided into two main sections: the Theoretical Part, comprising six subsections, and the Experimental Part.The theoretical framework introduces the concept of solar photocatalysis, the properties of Titanium Dioxide, and the development and applications of self-cleaning fabrics. It also includes an overview of textile processing methods and a presentation of pathogenic microorganisms, along with the photocatalytic properties of manganese-doped TiO₂ (TiO₂:Mn).The Experimental Part focuses on evaluating the antibacterial activity of the treated fabrics against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Gram-negative), two clinically significant bacterial strains frequently used as indicators of antimicrobial efficacy. The fabrics were impregnated with TiO₂:Mn nanoparticles and exposed to natural sunlight.The results demonstrated a complete (100%) reduction in bacterial populations for both strains within 120 minutes under solar irradiation. In contrast, under dark conditions or in the absence of a catalyst, bacterial reduction was negligible. While K. pneumoniae exhibited slightly greater resistance compared to S. aureus, both strains were fully neutralized under the experimental conditions.

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