Antibacterial Tellurium Dioxide Nanoparticles Incorporated into an Adhesive Wound Dressing

Tellurium dioxide (TeO₂) nanoparticles were synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in liquids (PLAL) using a bottom-ablation configuration, with deionized water as the solvent and pure tellurium pellets as the target. The resulting nanoparticles were spherical, with an average diameter of 56 ± 13 nm. Phase analysis indicated that the nanoparticles consisted mainly of around 83% of paratellurite α-TeO₂, with a minor fraction, i.e., around 17% of the metastable γ-TeO₂ phase. The antibacterial performance of the TeO₂ nanoparticles was evaluated against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), demonstrating broad-spectrum antibacterial activity at concentrations as low as 10 ppm. To assess their biomedical applicability, the nanoparticles were incorporated into an adhesive wound dressing, where they exhibited a strong antibacterial effect, highlighting their potential for infection-resistant wound care applications.