Pyrolized Diatomaceous Biomass Doped with Epitaxially Growing Hybrid Ag/TiO2 Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterisation and Antibacterial Application

Weronika Brzozowska; Izabela Wojtczak; Viorica Railean; Zhanar Bekissanova; Grzegorz Trykowski; Bogusław Buszewski; Myroslav Sprynskyy

doi:10.3390/ma16124345

Pyrolized Diatomaceous Biomass Doped with Epitaxially Growing Hybrid Ag/TiO₂ Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterisation and Antibacterial Application

Materials (Basel). 2023 Jun 13;16(12):4345. doi: 10.3390/ma16124345.

Authors

Weronika Brzozowska¹, Izabela Wojtczak², Viorica Railean^{3

4}, Zhanar Bekissanova^{5

6}, Grzegorz Trykowski⁷, Bogusław Buszewski^{2

4}, Myroslav Sprynskyy²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Doctoral School, University of Szczecin, Mickiewicza 16, 70-383 Szczecin, Poland.
² Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 7 Gagarina Str., 87-100 Torun, Poland.
³ Department of Infectious, Invasive Diseases and Veterinary Administration, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Gagarina 7, 87-100 Torun, Poland.
⁴ Interdisciplinary Center for Modern Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Wilenska 4, 87-100 Torun, Poland.
⁵ Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan.
⁶ Center of Physical-Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis, 050012 Almaty, Kazakhstan.
⁷ Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Gagarina 7, 87-100 Torun, Poland.

Abstract

In the pursuit of innovative solutions for modern technologies, particularly in the design and production of new micro/nanostructured materials, microorganisms acting as "natural microtechnologists" can serve as a valuable source of inspiration. This research focuses on harnessing the capabilities of unicellular algae (diatoms) to synthesize hybrid composites composed of AgNPs/TiO₂NPs/pyrolyzed diatomaceous biomass (AgNPs/TiO₂NPs/DBP). The composites were consistently fabricated through metabolic (biosynthesis) doping of diatom cells with titanium, pyrolysis of the doped diatomaceous biomass, and chemical doping of the pyrolyzed biomass with silver. To characterize the synthesized composites, their elemental and mineral composition, structure, morphology, and photoluminescent properties were analysed using techniques such as X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The study revealed the epitaxial growth of Ag/TiO₂ nanoparticles on the surface of pyrolyzed diatom cells. The antimicrobial potential of the synthesized composites was evaluated using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method against prevalent drug-resistant microorganisms, including Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Escherichia coli, both from laboratory cultures and clinical isolates.

Keywords: antibacterial activity; biosynthesis; diatom biomass; epitaxial Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles; epitaxial growths; hybrid nanostructures; photoluminescence properties.

Grants and funding

This work was financially supported in the framework of the project “Advanced Biocomposites for Tomorrow’s Economy BIOG-NET” (FNP POIR.04.04.00-00-1792/18-00), which is carried out within the TEAM-NET program of the Foundation for Polish Science co-financed by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund. V.R. is member of Emerging Fields “One Health—antimicrobial stewardship in human and veterinary medicine” operating under Excellence Initiative-Research University.