Photocatalytic biocidal effect of copper doped TiO$_2$ nanotube coated surfaces under laminar flow, illuminated with UVA light on Legionella pneumophila

Oder, Martina (avtor), Koklič, Tilen (avtor), Umek, Polona (avtor), Podlipec, Rok (avtor), Štancar, Janez (avtor), Dobeic, Martin (avtor)

Legionella pneumophila can cause a potentially fatal form of humane pneumonia (Legionnaires’ disease), which is most problematic in immunocompromised and in elderly people. Legionella species is present at low concentrations in soil, natural and artificial aquatic systems and is therefore constantly entering man-made water systems. The environment temperature for it’s ideal growth range is between 32 and 42°C, thus hot water pipes represent ideal environment for spread of Legionella. The bacteria are dormant below 20°C and do not survive above 60°C. The primary method used to control the risk from Legionella is therefore water temperature control. There are several other effective treatments to prevent growth of Legionella in water systems, however current disinfection methods can be applied only intermittently thus allowing Legionella to grow in between treatments. Here we present an alternative disinfection method based on antibacterial coatings with Cu-TiO$_2$ nanotubes deposited on preformed surfaces. In the experiment the microbiocidal efficiency of submicron coatings on polystyrene to the bacterium of the genus Legionella pneumophila with a potential use in a water supply system was tested. The treatment thus constantly prevents growth of Legionella pneumophila in presence of water at room temperature. Here we show that 24-hour illumination with low power UVA light source (15 W/m$^2$ UVA illumination) of copper doped TiO$_2$ nanotube coated surfaces is effective in preventing growth of Legionella pneumophila. Microbiocidal effects of Cu-TiO$_2$ nanotube coatings were dependent on the flow of the medium and the intensity of UV-A light. It was determined that tested submicron coatings have microbiocidal effects specially in a non-flow or low-flow conditions, as in higher flow rates, probably to a greater possibility of Legionella pneumophila sedimentation on the coated polystyrene surfaces, meanwhile no significant differences among bacteria reduction was noted regarding to non or low flow of medium.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: Legionella pneumophila, nanotubes, nanomaterials, light, polystyrene, flow rate, water resources, laminar flow, bacterial biofilms, food microbiology, titanium, chemistry
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: ZF - Zdravstvena fakulteta ; VF - Veterinarska fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2020
• Št. strani: 17 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 15, no. 1, art. e0227574
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-116669
• UDK: 579
• ISSN pri članku: 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227574
• COBISS.SI-ID: 4925562
• Datum objave v RUL: 02.06.2020

ODER, Martina, KOKLIČ, Tilen, UMEK, Polona, PODLIPEC, Rok, ŠTANCAR, Janez in DOBEIC, Martin, 2020, Photocatalytic biocidal effect of copper doped TiO$_2$ nanotube coated surfaces under laminar flow, illuminated with UVA light on Legionella pneumophila. PloS one [na spletu]. 2020. Vol. 15, no. 1,  e0227574. [Dostopano 31 maj 2025]. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0227574. Pridobljeno s: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=slv&id=116669

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: PloS one
• Založnik: PLOS
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• COBISS.SI-ID: 2005896

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Projekti

• Financer: ARRS - Agencija za raziskovalno dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P4-0092
• Naslov: Zdravje živali, okolje in varna hrana