Synthesis and properties of TiO2, NiO and ZnO nanoparticles and their possible biomedical application

Purpose: The main purpose of this publication is to bring closer method of synthesis and examining basic properties of TiO2, ZnO and NiO nanoparticles (NPs), and investigate their possible biomedical application. Design/methodology/approach: Nanopowders were made with sol-gel method. Surface morphology studies of the obtained materials were made using Zeiss's Supra 35 scanning electron microscope and the structure using S/TEM TITAN 80-300 transmission electron microscope. In order to confirm the chemical composition of observed nanopowders, qualitative tests were performed by means of spectroscopy of scattered X-ray energy using the Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). The DLS (Dynamic Light Scattering) method was used to analyse the particle size distribution using the AntonPaar Litesizer 500 nanoparticle size analyser. Changes in particle size distribution at elevated temperatures were also observed. The TiO2, ZnO and NiO NPs with spherical shape were successfully produced by sol-gel method. Findings: The diameter of the as prepared nanoparticles does not exceed 25 nm which is confirmed by the TEM analysis. The highest proportion among the agglomerates of the nanoparticles has been shown to show those with a diameter of 80 to 125 nm. The qualitative analysis of EDS confirmed the chemical composition of the material. Practical implications: Nanoparticles (NPs) has been receiving an incrementally increasing interest within biomedical fields researchers. Nanoparticles properties (physical, chemical, mechanical, optical, electrical, magnetic, etc.) are different from the properties of their counterparts with a larger particle size. Originality/value: The nanoparticles were prepared using sol-gel method which allows the particle size to be controlled in a simple way.