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Chirumbolo S, Gibellini D, Berto L, Cirrito C, Vella A, Bjørklund G, Sbarbati A, Bernardi P, Tirelli U. TiO 2-Ag-NP adhesive photocatalytic films able to disinfect living indoor spaces with a straightforward approach. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4200. [PMID: 36918713 PMCID: PMC10011799 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31464-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
TiO2-Ag doped nanoparticulate (TiO2-Ag-NP) adhesive photocatalytic films were used to assess the ability in dropping down the burden of indoor microbial particles. The application of an easy-to use photocatalytic adhesive film to cleanse indoor living spaces from microbial pollution, represents a novelty in the field of photocatalytic devices. Reduction was attained by photocatalysis in selected spaces, usually with overcrowding (≥ 3 individuals) in the common working daily hours, and upon indoor microclimate monitoring. TiO2-Ag doped nanoparticulate (TiO2-Ag-NP) adhesive photocatalytic films were applied within five types of living spaces, including schools and job places. The microbial pollution was assessed at time 0 (far from routine clean, ≥ 9 h) and throughout 2-4 weeks following the photocatalyst application by relative light unit (RLU) luminometry and microbial indirect assessment (colony forming units per cubic meter, CFU/m3). TiO2-Ag-NP photocatalyst reduced RLU and CFU/m3 by rates higher than 70% leading to RLU ≤ 20 and microbial presence ≤ 35 CFU/m3. The described TiO2-Ag-NP is able to reduce microbial pollution to the lowest RLU threshold (≤ 20) within 60 min in open daylight in a standardized test room of 100 m2. The correlation between RLU and CFU/m3 was positive (r = 0.5545, p < 0.05), assessing that the microbial reduction of indoor areas by the TiO2-Ag-NP adhesive film was real. Titania photocatalysts represent promising tools to ensure air cleaning and sanitization in living indoor microclimates with a low cost, feasible and straightforward approach. This approach represents an easy to handle, cost effective, feasible and efficacious approach to reduce microbial pollution in indoor spaces, by simply attaching a TiO2-Ag-NP adhesive film on the wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Unit of Human Anatomy, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134, Verona, Italy.
| | - Davide Gibellini
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Unit of Microbiology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Luca Berto
- Material Chemical Expert Labs, Treviso, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Vella
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Mo i Rana, Norway
| | - Andrea Sbarbati
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Unit of Human Anatomy, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Paolo Bernardi
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Unit of Human Anatomy, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134, Verona, Italy
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