Salah, Intisar;
(2024)
Development and Characterization of
Antimicrobial Thin Films.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
This thesis explores the use of the sol-gel technique and aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD) to deposit copper nanoparticles (CuNPs), copper oxide and zinc oxide thin films. The transmission of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is a significant concern, therefore, there is a need to develop effective antimicrobial films that reduce the spread of pathogenic microbes and combat HAIs. Although the sol-gel deposition method was effective and tuneable, the film lacked uniformity and was prone to cracking. Therefore, AACVD was utilised were the precursors, CuNPs, copper or zinc solutions, were aerosolised and moved along a reactor bed to deposit the particles onto the substrate. This technique created a more uniform and durable film. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used to test the efficacy of the antimicrobial films using a droplet method described in the ISO-22196 protocol and a spray method to emulate the scenarios of microbes spread through sneezing and coughing. A study into the mechanism of antibacterial activity of the film was also conducted using reactive oxygen species (ROS) quenchers in Chapter 3. The CuNP film in Chapter 3 demonstrated high bactericidal efficacy in the droplet and the aerosol tests, and singlet oxygen was identified as the responsible ROS. Challenges were identified in the CuNP film formed with AACVD in Chapter 4 as limited copper was deposited, attributed to the thermophoretic effect and NP aerosolization, necessitating further optimization. The copper and zinc oxide films formed in Chapter 5 focused on enhancing metal adherence by introducing an alkoxysilane layer, resulting in improved antimicrobial effectiveness. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the formulation and testing of antimicrobial films, and the need for ongoing optimization to maximize efficacy.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Development and Characterization of Antimicrobial Thin Films |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2024. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Chemistry |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10195806 |
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