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Catalysts
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Photocatalysis towards a Sustainable Future
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Photocatalysis towards a Sustainable Future

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Photocatalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 1616

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Xiuli Dong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Osteopathic Medicine, Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC, USA
Interests: catalyst; photocatalyst; nanomaterials; microbiology; pathogenic microorganisms; antimicrobial effects; microbial resistance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pathogens are the leading cause of many infectious diseases, and developing antimicrobial materials with low toxicity contributes to public health. Photocatalysts, by producing radical oxygen species (ROS) with the activation of light, can cause physical damage and kill many microorganisms. Many studies have proven that photocatalysts can effectively inactivate various pathogenic microorganisms in the environment, including bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, viruses, etc. Photocatalysts are also known for their low toxicity and environmentally friendly nature. This Special Issue covers the design, preparation, characteristics, toxicity, and antimicrobial effects of photocatalysts, as well as their associated mechanisms, microbial resistance, ability to optimize the reaction conditions, etc. We invite authors to contribute original research papers and review papers to this Special Issue, focusing on inactivating pathogenic microorganisms using photocatalysts.

Dr. Xiuli Dong
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • photocatalyst
  • photocatalysis
  • antimicrobial effects
  • pathogenic microorganisms
  • toxicity
  • antimicrobial mechanism

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1798 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Photoactivated Chlorophyllin Production of Singlet Oxygen and Inactivation of Foodborne Pathogens
by Cristina Pablos, Javier Marugán, Rafael van Grieken, Jeremy W. J. Hamilton, Nigel G. Ternan and Patrick S. M. Dunlop
Catalysts 2024, 14(8), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14080507 - 6 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 920
Abstract
Singlet oxygen (1O2) is known to have antibacterial activity; however, production can involve complex processes with expensive chemical precursors and/or significant energy input. Recent studies have confirmed the generation of 1O2 through the activation of photosensitizer molecules [...] Read more.
Singlet oxygen (1O2) is known to have antibacterial activity; however, production can involve complex processes with expensive chemical precursors and/or significant energy input. Recent studies have confirmed the generation of 1O2 through the activation of photosensitizer molecules (PSs) with visible light in the presence of oxygen. Given the increase in the incidence of foodborne diseases associated with cross-contamination in food-processing industries, which is becoming a major concern, food-safe additives, such as chlorophyllins, have been studied for their ability to act as PSs. The fluorescent probe Singlet Oxygen Sensor Green (SOSG®) was used to estimate 1O2 formation upon the irradiation of traditional PSs (rose bengal (RB), chlorin 6 (ce6)) and novel chlorophyllins, sodium magnesium (NaChl) and sodium copper (NaCuChl), with both simulated-solar and visible light. NaChl gave rise to a similar 1O2 production rate when compared to RB and ce6. Basic mixing was shown to introduce sufficient oxygen to the PS solutions, preventing the limitation of the 1O2 production rate. The NaChl-based inactivation of Gram-positive S. aureus and Gram-negative E. coli was demonstrated with a 5-log reduction with UV–Vis light. The NaChl-based inactivation of Gram-positive S. aureus was accomplished with a 2-log reduction after 105 min of visible-light irradiation and a 3-log reduction following 150 min of exposure from an initial viable bacterial concentration of 106 CFU mL−1. CHS-NaChl-based photosensitization under visible light enhanced Gram-negative E. coli inactivation and provided a strong bacteriostatic effect preventing E. coli proliferation. The difference in the ability of NaChl and CHS-NaChl complexes to inactivate Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was confirmed to result from the cell wall structure, which impacted PS–bacteria attachment and therefore the production of localized singlet oxygen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalysis towards a Sustainable Future)
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Review

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21 pages, 2890 KiB  
Review
Visible-Light-Activated TiO2-Based Photocatalysts for the Inactivation of Pathogenic Bacteria
by Farhana Haque, Allison Blanchard, Baileigh Laipply and Xiuli Dong
Catalysts 2024, 14(12), 855; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14120855 - 25 Nov 2024
Abstract
Pathogenic bacteria in the environment pose a significant threat to public health. Titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based photocatalysts have emerged as a promising solution due to their potent antimicrobial effects under visible light and their generally eco-friendly properties. This review focuses on the [...] Read more.
Pathogenic bacteria in the environment pose a significant threat to public health. Titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based photocatalysts have emerged as a promising solution due to their potent antimicrobial effects under visible light and their generally eco-friendly properties. This review focuses on the antibacterial properties of visible-light-activated, TiO2-based photocatalysts against pathogenic bacteria and explores the factors influencing their efficacy. Various TiO2 modification strategies are discussed, including doping with non-metals, creating structure defects, combining narrow-banded semiconductors, etc., to extend the light absorption spectrum from the UV to the visible light region. The factors affecting bacterial inactivation, and the underlying mechanisms are elucidated. Although certain modified TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) show antibacterial activities in the dark, they exhibit much higher antibacterial efficacies under visible light, especially with higher light intensity. Doping TiO2 with elements such as N, S, Ce, Bi, etc., or introducing surface defects in TiO2 NPs without doping, can effectively inactivate various pathogenic bacteria, including multidrug-resistant bacteria, under visible light. These surface modifications are advantageous in their simplicity and cost-effectiveness in synthesis. Additionally, TiO2 can be coupled with narrow-banded semiconductors, resulting in narrower band gaps and enhanced photocatalytic efficiency and antibacterial activities under visible light. This information aids in understanding the current technologies for developing visible-light-driven, TiO2-based photocatalysts and their application in inactivating pathogenic bacteria in the environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalysis towards a Sustainable Future)
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