Antimicrobial activity of eumelanin-based hybrids: The role of TiO2 in modulating the structure and biological performance

Eco-friendly hybrid Eumelanin-TiO2 nanostructures, recently obtained through in situ methodology based on hydrothermal route, have shown a striking antimicrobial activity, after exposure to oxidative environment, even under visible light induction condition. Nevertheless, the role of each component in defining the efficacy of these biological properties is far from being clearly defined. Furthermore, the effect of oxidative step on hybrids structure has not yet addressed. This study aims at elucidating the role of the ratio between eumelanin precursor, 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA), and TiO2, for its polymerization in defining morphology and structural organization of TiO2-melanin nanostructures.