Assessment of functional nanomaterials in medical applications: can time mend public and occupational health risks related to the products' fate?

Surface coatings are one promising option to prevent bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation given the prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains. Titanium dioxide (TiO) is presently considered to be the only photocatalytic material suitable for commercial use, although the toxicity risks of TiO, particularly in its nanoparticulate form, have not been fully addressed. The aim of this study was to determine release of nanoparticles (NPs) from functional materials for medical applications and their aerosol formation.

Environmental release of engineered nanomaterials from commercial tiles under standardized abrasion conditions.

The study presented here focuses on commercial antibacterial tiles whose emissivity of (nano) particles due to abrasion has yet barely been investigated. The tiles have been characterized regarding their surface properties and composition throughout their chain-of-use, i.e.

Granulating titania powder by colloidal route using polyelectrolytes.

A new, convenient, and inexpensive approach to process and granulate titania powders by a chemical route is proposed. It is based on the use of a formulation that includes a polyanion such as poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS). Such a polyelectrolyte is most often considered to achieve dispersion of oxide powders in water.

Stability of aqueous TiO2 suspensions: influence of ethanol.

Dispersion of titania particles in water has been achieved thanks to the addition of two different compounds: (C(2)H(5))(4)NOH and Tiron. To compact particles using an electrophoretic deposition process, ethanol, up to 20 vol%, was added as cosolvent to prevent water electrolysis. Alcohol addition strongly affects zeta potential values of particles and increases suspension viscosity but without influence the surface charge.