Chitosan-capped TiO2 hybrid nanomaterials for antibacterial and photocatalytic application of crystal violet

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and environmental dye pollutants necessitate the development of multifunctional hybrid nanomaterials (HNs) with antibacterial and photocatalytic properties. Nanotechnology offers advanced solutions through the synthesis of smart and sustainable HNs. This study investigates the development of chitosan-capped titanium dioxide (CHTiO2) that was synthesized using ascorbic acid as a nucleation agent via a facile co-precipitation technique. The resulting HNs were calcinated to obtain advanced bio-physicochemical properties. The prepared HNs were characterized using spectral, morphological and thermal instrumentation techniques. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that the chitosan functioned effectively as a capping agent, while X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the synthesized HNs exhibited a TiO2 anatase phase. The calcinated HNs have a bandgap energy of similar to 2.93 eV, indicative of its photocatalytic potential as observed in Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Morphological studies conveyed spherical nanostructures with an average diameter of similar to 26.9 nm, and the HNs exhibited excellent thermal stability. Finally, the prepared HNs antibacterial activity and photocatalytic studies were evaluated against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and crystal violet dye, respectively. These results indicate that the prepared HNs showed potential as an effective antibacterial agent for various biomedical applications, such as wound dressings, medical device coating, and water purification systems, offering sustainable solutions to pressing global issues.