Synthesis of Cu-TiNT,characterization, and antibacterial properties evaluation

Copper ion–exchanged titanate nanotubes (Cu-TiNTs) had been prepared from a simple ion-exchange reaction between copper salt and sodium titanate nanotubes (Na-TiNT) which was synthesized by alkaline hydrothermal synthesis starting from titanium oxide of anatase phase. A thorough structural and morphological characterization of Cu-TiNT (and Na-TiNT) was done by using various material characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy to reveal retention of tubular structure of titanate nanotubes with decoration of copper (II) oxide on the surface of the tubes as well as an exchange of Na⁺ ion by Cu²⁺ ion in the interlamellar space. The antibacterial properties of the Cu-TiNT were evaluated by broth macrodilution method using microtiter trays, with concentration ranging between 512 and 0.5 μg/mL. The Cu-TiNT demonstrated no clinically relevant antibacterial activity alone (minimum inhibitory concentration ≥ 1024 μg/mL), but when associated with gentamicin, this compound enhanced the antibiotic activity of this drugs against strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. The results were very promising to the utilization of the Cu-TiNT as an adjuvant to the antibiotic therapy.