https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-024-05300-1
Regular Article
Enhanced antimicrobial properties of mural colours by the addition of titanium dioxide nanoparticles
Physics Research Centre, Baselius College, 686001, Kottayam, Kerala, India
Received:
6
February
2024
Accepted:
21
May
2024
Published online:
3
June
2024
Historically natural colours are used in mural paintings, and surface degradation of these paintings due to microbial, chemical, and physical activities is a threat to the longevity of these artefacts. It is a well-known fact that nanoparticles possess excellent antimicrobial properties and hence in this study we have investigated the effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the antifungal and antibacterial properties of four different commonly used natural colours (red, yellow, green, and blue) in India for mural artworks. A swab taken from the contaminated surface of a historic mural painting is analysed and observed that Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum are the major fungi colonies on these paintings. Presence of bacteria is also detected from this swab analysis. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are selected for antibacterial studies since they are the two commonly found bacteria that are harmful to human beings. Significant enhancement in the antifungal and antibacterial properties of the nanoparticle incorporated natural colours is observed in comparison with pure natural colours. Optical and thermal properties of the nanoparticle-added colours are also studied using UV–visible reflection spectroscopy and thermo-gravimetric and differential thermal analysis. An increase in reflectance is observed for nanoparticles incorporated mural colours compared to the pure colours. Structural and elemental analysis of the natural colours is also carried out using X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Titanium dioxide nanoparticle is synthesised using co-precipitation method and characterised using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
