Titanium Dioxide Nano-Formulation: Characterization, Antimicrobial Activity, and Wound Healing in Animals

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In veterinary fields, infected wounds are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in animals. Due to the widespread use of antibiotics in wound treatment, multidrug-resistant bacterial strains have emerged in animals and interest in alternative antimicrobial treatments has focused on the use of metal oxide nanoparticles. In this study, we have addressed this challenge using the application of a solution-stabilized dispersion of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO(2)-NP). This product has been investigated for its unique properties of countering specific members of the skin microflora and its enhancement of the wound healing process. It has been shown that TiO(2)-NP with 383.10 ± 23.05 nm and the zeta potential 19.27 ± 4.65 mV are able to inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation of reference members of the skin microflora, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and enhance cell migration and wound healing processes in vitro and in vivo. TiO(2)-NP is a promising candidate for veterinary medical applications that can be used to improve the wound healing process. ABSTRACT: The use of metal oxide nanoparticles as an alternative antimicrobial agent has gained attention due to the increasing problem of antimicrobial resistance. Understanding its properties and potential benefits can contribute to the development of more effective and sustainable treatments in veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was to characterize TiO(2)-NP formulations and evaluate their antibacterial and wound healing abilities. The diameters and zeta potentials were determined using the Zetasizer in conjunction with dynamic light scattering. The agar-well diffusion method, time-kill kinetic assay and crystal violet assay were used to evaluate their antimicrobial activities. Wound healing assays were conducted both in vitro and in vivo. The study demonstrated that TiO(2)-NP formulations exhibit significant antimicrobial properties against various bacterial strains such as S. aureus and E. coli. No measurable E. coli growth was observed within a 15-min period following exposure to TiO(2)-NP formulations. The TiO(2)-NP formation can improve wound healing by enhancing cell migration and collagen formation in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. In summary, our study suggests that TiO(2)-NP has the potential for use as an antimicrobial agent for animal wound treatment due to its ability to suppress bacterial growth and biofilm formation, as well as to enhance wound healing.