Obtaining titanium dioxide nanoparticles with spherical shape and antimicrobial properties using M. citrifolia leaves...

In this work, we synthesized titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles using leaf extract of Morinda citrifolia (M. citrifolia) by the advanced hydrothermal method. The synthesized TiO₂ nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transmission infrared (FT-IR), Ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance (UV-Vis DRS), Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM with EDX) techniques. The XRD major peak at 27.3° corresponds to the (110) lattice plane of tetragonal rutile TiO₂ phase and average crystalline size of nanoparticles is 10nm. The FT-IR result confirmed that TiO₂ nanoparticles and the presences of very few amount of anthraquinone and phenolic compounds of the leaf extract. The obtained nanoparticles were also characterized by UV-Vis DRS absorption spectroscopy and an intense band at 423nm clearly reveals the formation of nanoparticles. SEM images with EDX spectra clearly reveal the size of the nanoparticles, between 15 and 19nm in excellent quasi-spherical shape, by virtue of stabilization (capping) agent. The presence of elements-titanium and oxygen was verified with EDX spectrum. Furthermore, the inhibitory activity of green synthesized TiO₂ nanoparticles was tested against human pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger by the agar well-diffusion method. The TiO₂ nanoparticles exhibited superior antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, demonstrating their antimicrobial value against pathogenic diseases.