A LIGHT SENSITIVE ANTI-MICROBIAL NANOCOMPOSITE COMPOSED OF CHITOSAN AND DOPED METAL OXIDE NANOPARTICLES

摘要

The present invention relates to a light sensitive antimicrobial nanocomposite composed of an organic polymer such as chitosan and an inorganic doped metal oxide nanoparticle such as copper doped titanium dioxide nanoparticle; and a method to produce the same. The said antimicrobial comprises of inorganic doped metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed in the organic polymer matrix for yielding stable and biocompatible nanocomposites ranging from 10 to 100nm in size with at least 12nm diameter, possessing high antimicrobial activity of at least 200% over a short span of time in the presence of light due to the synergistic effect of the photocatalytic activity of the said copper doped titanium-dioxide nanoparticles and the antimicrobial activity of chitosan. Furthermore, the light sensitive antimicrobial nanocomposite can be used for various applications as an antimicrobial agent such as, but not limiting to, wound healing, coating food packages, sanitizing hospitals etc.