Antimicrobial Hydrophobic SiO2-TiO2-PDMS Films: Effect of Indirect Ultrasonic Irradiation on the Synthesis Process
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Film applications’ recent advances in the alimentary industry mainly focus on extending product shelf life. Researchers have investigated the use of nanomaterials as active packaging to shield food product contents from the outside elements and prevent bacterial development. In this context, the use of sonochemistry energy offers a friendly and efficient opportunity to obtain this kind of film. However, access to an ultrasonic homogenizer is limited because of the cost and accessories. In this work, a self-cleaning coating based on the SiO2-TiO2-PDMS composite was obtained by the sol–gel method coupled with indirect sonochemical energy. Two sonication reaction times were used to investigate its impact on the final composite’s chemical, morphological, and antibacterial properties. TEM and SEM techniques indicate an amorphous morphology and superficial cracks in SiO2-TiO2-PDMS films over aluminum foil. At the same time, AFM reveals a rise in rugosity with a value of Ra = 18.7 ± 2.47 nm, increasing the sonochemical reaction time. Non-significative changes by FTIR-ATR analysis were observed. The antibacterial evaluation was conducted, and the results indicate that both composites exhibited superior effectiveness. Specifically, the S40 film demonstrated a significant reduction in the growth of Gram-negative cells (E. coli, P. putida, and P. aeruginosa), with reductions ranging from 50% to 95%. In contrast, the reduction in Gram-positive cells (S. aureus) was less than 10%. These findings underscore the potential application of the SiO2-TiO2-PDMS film as active packaging.
Source: Journal of Composites Science
DOI: 10.3390/jcs8030104
Authors: Alicia Rosales, Hugo Mandujano, José Antonio Cervantes-Chávez, Karen Esquivel
Institution: Autonomous University of Queretaro
Language: English
Subfield: Biomaterials
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,046
Awards: G2530996787, G7249844871
OpenAlex ID: W4392896759
