Development of antimicrobial leather modified with Ag–TiO2 nanoparticles for footwear industry

The proposed work aims to functionalize leathers for footwear industry with antimicrobial properties based on Ag–TiO₂ nanoparticles. The synthesis of nanoparticles was carried out by the hydrothermal method with significant advantages in terms of time, energy savings and low cost. Anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles with dimensions below 10 nm were obtained as observed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the based structure of leather was not modified by the addition of the nanoparticles. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated and it was observed that Ag containing leathers gained antimicrobial activity. In addition, the nanoparticles were found to be non-cytotoxic. This achievement, by itself, should be quite appealing to the footwear industry as it could consist in a solid value-preposition given the commonness of fungal infections promoted by humidity, poor breathability and temperature that promote the expansion of the microflora of the skin.