The Antimicrobial Effect and ROS Redox Activity of Nb₂O₅-Containing Powders Obtained by the Sol-Gel Method

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Nanosized powders offer unique properties for various applications.
• Antimicrobial materials are crucial for combating infections and environmental contamination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize Nb2O5-containing nanopowders.
• To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of these nanopowders against specific bacterial and fungal strains.
• To investigate potential synergistic effects with antibiotics and applications in oxidation processes.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Nb2O5-containing gels using inorganic and organic precursors.
• Hydrolysis, aging, and calcination of gels to obtain nanopowders.
• Characterization using techniques like UV-Vis spectroscopy.
• Antimicrobial testing against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and C. albicans.
• Synergy testing with ciprofloxacin against E. coli.
• Evaluation of ROS modulation in physiological conditions.

Main Results:

• TiO2 (anatase) crystals with an average size of 10 nm were detected after calcination.
• The nanopowders exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus, but not C. albicans.
• A concentration-dependent synergistic antibacterial effect was observed with ciprofloxacin against E. coli.
• The nanocomposite modulated ROS generation and showed inhibitory effects at pH 7.4.

Conclusions:

• Nb2O5-containing nanopowders possess significant antibacterial properties.
• These materials show promise as environmental catalysts and for biological applications in inflammatory and oxidation processes.
• The synergistic effect with ciprofloxacin highlights potential for enhanced antibiotic therapies.