Bactericidal activity of titanium dioxide ultraviolet-induced films

TiO2 films are used as a self-sterilization surface due to their property to form reactive oxygen species (ROS) when irradiated with ultraviolet light. These ROS attack bacteria and kill them. We present a new way to enhance the bactericidal activity of TiO2-films: formation of nanopores on the surface by four-beam high-power laser irradiation. Such surfaces have significantly higher antibacterial activity as compared to conventional TiO2 surfaces after 15 and 60min of UV irradiation. Study of the bacterial cell morphology by atomic force microscopy after 60min irradiation showed that Staphylococcus aureus 956 and Escherichia coli 321-5 undergo significant morphological changes. S. aureus assume atypical elongated shapes after UV treatment alone and swollen forms with protrusions after UV treatment on TiO2 surface. E. coli exhibit oval or round forms after UV treatment alone, and round forms with small protrusions, and destroyed cells after incubation under UV on the TiO2 film.