Antibacterial effect of TiO2 nanoparticles modified with APTES

In this paper, the antibacterial properties of TiO2 photocatalysts modified by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) are presented. It has been observed that the APTES modification enhancement of antibacterial efficiency (against Escherichia coli ATCC 29425) under artificial solar light (ASL). The results showed that all modified titania had higher disinfection efficiencies than starting TiO2. For TiO2-4h-120 °C-300 a total sample elimination of the E. coli was achieved after 180 min of ASL irradiation. Improvement of antibacterial properties was attributed to the changes in the surface properties, i.e. zeta potential. [Display omitted] •The TiO2-APTES photocatalysts were synthesized by a solvothermal process.•Modification with APTES improved antibacterial activity under artificial solar light.•Photoactivity depends on zeta potential and amount of OH radicals on TiO2 surface.