Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NanoSurf (Development of New Nanotechnology Strategies for Surface Disinfection/Decontamination)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2021-01-01 do 2022-12-31
The Nanosurf project focused an innovative combination of three technologies, i.e (i) cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), (ii) ultrasound (US) and (iii) the synthesis of nanomaterials (Nps) in one technological chain for decontamination and/or disinfection of biotic/abiotic surfaces. The proposed technology is of particular interest since it relies on water as a medium without the need for any electroconductive additives.
Formal objectives of this Marie Skłodowska Curie Action (MSCA) were to (a) achieve an optimization for the nanoparticles (Nps) composition, technological parameters of CAP-US synthesis of Nps under non-equilibrium state; to achieve a combination of CAP-US synthesis of Nps in one chain for treatment of various surfaces; (b) to demonstrate the efficacy of the technological combination of the CAP process with US treatment in one technological chain for decontamination and/or disinfection of biotic/abiotic surfaces; (c) to study physicochemical, toxicological properties and risk assessment of synthesized Nps. Another goal of the MSCA Individual Fellowship is to bring up the development of the individual researcher. In this project, the objectives and goals have been addressed via three specific work packages: (1) development of an integrated plasma-ultrasound treatments; (2) synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles; (3) antimicrobial efficacy, toxicological and risk assessment of synthesized MeOx NPs.
Yellow NPs+PAL solutions have a significantly higher estimated W-concentration of 903.0 ± 84.4 mg/L compared to bluish NPs+PAL solutions, with an estimated W-concentration of 332.2 ± 22.1 mg/L. Based on the chemical formula’s of WO3 and WO2.72 for yellow and blue NPs respectively, the WO3-X concentrations were estimated. The calculated concentrations were 1138.7 ±106.4 mg/L for yellow NPs + PAL solutions and 410.86 ±27.3 mg/L for blue NPs + PAL solutions.
The inactivation efficiency highly depends on the solution used. As indicated in Figures 2 (a) and (b), a combination of NPs and PAL exhibits higher inactivation rates compared to separated PAL. This separated PAL in turn exhibits higher inactivation rates than resuspended NPs. An exception to this is the use of yellow PAL on Salmonella. Here, the yellow PAL solution has higher inactivation rates than a solution of yellow NPs and PAL. Resuspended tungsten oxide NPs possess no antibacterial properties. Neither Salmonella nor Listeria show any inactivation when treated with these resuspended NPs. Concentration and reaction time are likely to be the key factors.
The main conclusion was made: nanoparticles of tungsten oxide by themselves do not have antimicrobial activity, only together with the action of PAL they affect microbial inactivation. The synergistic effect between NPs and PAL that was hypothesized in the proposal was observed and confirmed. The patent application: ”Production of aqueous solution of tungsten oxide nanoparticles for antimicrobial application” has been sent to the Department of Intellectual Properties of KU Leuven to assess their patentability.