Ag-doped Cobweb-like structure of TiO₂ nanotubes for antibacterial activity against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Hydrothermal reaction and photodeposition were used to transform TiO₂ nanoparticles to TiO₂ nanotubes (TNTs) loaded with Ag. The structure and morphology of TNTs and Ag/TNTs were characterized, and the antibacterial activity of all catalysts against Methicillin-resistant S. aureus was tested using agar well diffusion and total viable plate count methods in the absence and presence of UV light. The cobweb-like structure of TNTs was noticed, and the network could increase the surface area to 184–216 m²/g, an up to fourfold increase compared to TiO₂ P25. The XRD, EDS, HRTEM and UV-DR results revealed Ag nanoparticle deposition on the TNTs surface. The HRTEM result also showed no change in the shape or morphology of TNTs. The Ag nanoparticle size on the TNTs surface ranged from 8.928 ± 1.487 to 14.654 ± 2.901 nm. The light absorption capacity of TiO₂, TNTs, and Ag/TNTs displayed antibacterial activity in the presence of UV light. In contrast, only Ag/TNTs could reduce the bacteria growth in the dark condition, which decreased the restriction of TNTs and TiO₂. The maximum antibacterial activity was obtained at 1.5%Ag/TNT, at which the cell viability was 77.86% of the initial number concentration. Based on the result of this research work, it could be confirmed that Ag/TNTs can potentially be used as a disinfection material in both presence as well as absence of UV light.