Multifunctional Cyclic Olefin Copolymer-Titanium Dioxide-Based Nanocomposites for Enhanced Antibacterial and...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Growing demand for multifunctional materials in biomedical and packaging sectors.
• Need for advanced nanocomposites with improved mechanical, barrier, and antibacterial characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize cyclic olefin copolymer (COC)/titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocomposite films.
• To evaluate the impact of TiO2 incorporation on film properties and performance.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of COC/TiO2 nanocomposite films via solution casting with varying TiO2 concentrations (1, 3, 5 wt%).
• Structural and morphological analysis (e.g., dispersion, agglomeration).
• Assessment of barrier properties (water vapor and oxygen permeability), mechanical properties (tensile strength, modulus), antibacterial activity, and cytotoxicity.

Main Results:

• Effective TiO2 dispersion observed at 1 and 3 wt%, with agglomeration at 5 wt%.
• Significant enhancement in barrier properties: reduced water vapor permeability by ~63% and oxygen permeability by ~64%.
• Marked improvement in mechanical properties: 113% increase in tensile strength and 81.3% increase in tensile modulus at 3 wt% TiO2.
• Demonstrated antibacterial efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus.
• Confirmed biocompatibility through cytotoxicity studies.

Conclusions:

• COC/TiO2 nanocomposites exhibit superior mechanical, barrier, and antibacterial properties.
• The developed nanocomposite films are suitable for advanced applications.
• Potential uses include antibacterial coatings, wound healing patches, and high-performance packaging.