Synthesis and characterization of TiO(2) nanoparticles combined with geraniol and their synergistic antibacterial activity

BACKGROUND: The emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria has become a global threat, encouraging the adoption of efficient and effective alternatives to conventional antibiotics and promoting their use as replacements. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO(2) NPs) have been reported to exhibit antibacterial properties. In this study, we synthesized and characterized TiO(2) NPs in anatase and rutile forms with surface modification by geraniol (GER). RESULTS: The crystallinity and morphology of modified TiO(2) NPs were analyzed by UV/Vis spectrophotometry, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with elemental mapping (EDS). The antimicrobial activity of TiO(2) NPs with geraniol was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Escherichia coli. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of modified NPs ranged from 0.25 to 1.0 mg/ml against all bacterial strains, and the live dead assay and fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) supported the antibacterial properties of TiO(2) NPs with GER. Moreover, TiO(2) NPs with GER also showed a significant decrease in the biofilm thickness of MRSA. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that TiO(2) NPs with GER offer a promising alternative to antibiotics, particularly for controlling antibiotic-resistant strains. The surface modification of TiO(2) NPs by geraniol resulted in enhanced antibacterial properties against multiple bacterial strains, including antibiotic-resistant MRSA. The potential applications of modified TiO(2) NPs in the biomedical and environmental fields warrant further investigation. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-023-02955-1.