Hydroxyapatite/TiO₂ Nanomaterial with Defined Microstructural and Good Antimicrobial Properties

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Increased bacterial infections due to weakened immunity from global health crises.
• Need for simple, low-cost synthesis of materials with structural and antimicrobial properties.
• Hydroxyapatite (HAp) offers biocompatibility, while titanium dioxide (TiO2) degrades organic molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate three different synthesis routes for hydroxyapatite/titanium dioxide (HAp/TiO2) nanomaterials.
• To characterize the structural, morphological, and chemical properties of the synthesized HAp/TiO2.
• To evaluate the antimicrobial and photocatalytic efficacy of the developed nanomaterials.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of HAp/TiO2 nanomaterials via three distinct routes.
• Characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) for morphology and composition.
• Phase and structural analysis using X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD); crystallite size determined (8-15 nm).
• Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to verify material composition.

Main Results:

• HAp/TiO2 nanomaterials were successfully synthesized with varying morphologies based on the route.
• XRD confirmed hexagonal HAp phases and TiO2 anatase/rutile phases in all samples.
• EDX analysis verified the presence of key elements (Ti, Ca, P, O); FTIR confirmed HAp and Ti vibrations.
• Synthesized materials demonstrated excellent antimicrobial and photocatalytic activities.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully produced HAp/TiO2 nanomaterials using cost-effective methods.
• The materials possess desirable structural and chemical properties suitable for antimicrobial applications.
• These HAp/TiO2 nanomaterials show significant potential for combating bacterial infections and degrading organic pollutants.