Physicochemical Evaluation of PMMA Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles and Their Antimicrobial Features

Herein, the authors have explored the effect of incorporating TiO₂ (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 wt%) into the PMMA network. The crystal structure of the pure and doped PMMA displayed amorphous to crystalline shift with a 17 nm for TiO₂ and 10 nm of PMMA/TiO₂ with the highest wt%. Maximum reflectance scopes 62% for PMMA/TiO₂ 0.1 wt% at 456 nm. The reduced bandgap from 4.2 for PMMA to 3.3 eV for PMMA/TiO₂ 0.1 wt% potentilally by the emergence of energy levels. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated the resembling spectroscopy without shifts in representative peaks except for the increase in the peak cited at 450 cm⁻¹, accredited to the Ti–O bond. The dielectric features verified the insertion of TiO₂ into PMMA matrix triggered the permittivity improvement, offering interfaces for the charges accumulation. The Antimicrobial specifications of the PMMA and PMMA/ TiO₂ were examined versus B. Subtilis, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, E. coli, C. albicans, and A. niger. The advanced TiO₂ wt% the larger antimicrobial activity, particularly regarding gram-negative bacteria. Highest activity demonstrated 67.42% versus K. pneumoniae for PMMA/TiO₂ 0.1 wt%, although the antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. niger was inconsequential.