The comparative study of photocatalytic self‐cleaning properties of synthesized nanoscale titania and zirconia onto polyacrylonitrile fibers

The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ and ZrO₂‐coated polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers was compared through the self‐cleaning of methylene blue and eosin yellowish. TiO₂ and ZrO₂ nanocrystals were successfully synthesized and deposited onto PAN fibers with photocatalytic self‐cleaning activity using the sol‐gel process at low temperature. The pristine and treated samples have been characterized by several techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. The TiO₂ nanoparticles with 10–20 nm in size, and ZrO₂ with 20–40 nm have been synthesized to form dispersed particles on the fiber surface, which shows photocatalytic properties when exposed to UV–Vis light. The photocatalytic activity, tested by measuring the degradation of adsorbed methylene blue and Eosin Y. Photocatalytic activity of TiO₂‐coated fibers toward dyes degradation was higher than that of ZrO₂‐coated fibers. This preparation technique can be also applied to new fabrics to create self‐cleaning and UV irradiation protection properties in them. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Multifunctionality of poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofiber webs containing titanium dioxide

We prepared titanium dioxide/PVA nanocomposite fiber webs for application in multifunctional textiles by electrospinning. The morphological properties of the TiO₂/PVA nanocomposite fibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Layered fabric systems with electrospun TiO₂ nanocomposite fiber webs were developed using various concentrations of TiO₂ and a range of web area densities, and then the UV‐protective properties, antibacterial functions, formaldehyde decomposition ability, and ammonia deodorization efficiency of the fabric systems were assessed. Layered fabric systems with TiO₂ nanocomposite fiber webs containing 2 wt% TiO₂ nanoparticles at 3.0 g m^?2 web area density exhibited an ultraviolet protection factor of greater than 50, indicating excellent UV protection. The same system showed a 99.3% reduction in Staphylococcus aureus. Layered fabric systems with TiO₂ nanocomposite fiber webs containing 3 wt % TiO₂ nanoparticles at 3.0 g m^?2 web area density exhibited a 85.3% reduction in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Titanium dioxide nanocomposite fiber webs containing 3 wt % TiO₂ nanoparticles at 3.0 g m^?2 web area density exhibited a formaldehyde decomposition efficiency of 40% after 2 h, 60% after 4 h, and 80% after 15 h under UV irradiation. The same system showed an ammonia deodorization efficiency of 32.2% under UV irradiation for 2 h. These results demonstrate that TiO₂ nanocomposite fibers can be used to produce advanced textile materials with multifunctional properties. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Self‐cleaning Bombyx mori silk: room‐temperature preparation of anatase nano‐TiO2 by the sol–gel method and its application

The aim of this work was to obtain anatase nano‐TiO₂ by the sol–gel method at room temperature and to achieve self‐cleaning Bombyx mori silk fabrics. Nano‐TiO₂ sols based on an aqueous system and an ethanol system were prepared separately by the sol–gel method using tetrabutyl orthotitanate as a precursor at room temperature. Particle size analyses showed that nano‐TiO₂ particles in an aqueous system were much bigger and more variant than those in ethanol. X‐ray diffraction patterns revealed a pure anatase phase of nano‐TiO₂ in an aqueous system. Crystalline transformation of TiO₂ from anatase to rutile by photoradiation at ambient temperature was also proved. Thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric analyses confirmed the phase transformation of nano‐TiO₂. A scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy‐dispersive spectrometer was used to investigate the surface morphology and elements of Bombyx mori silk fabrics. The contact angles with water, the kinetics of photocatalytic degradation of Methylene Blue, and decontamination of red‐wine‐stained fabrics under ultraviolet radiation demonstrated that the fabrics had good self‐cleaning properties and photoinduced hydrophilicity.     

Structural and ultraviolet‐protective properties of nano‐TiO2‐doped polypropylene filaments

Textiles, with appropriate light absorbers and suitable finishing methods, can be used as ultraviolet (UV) protection materials. In this study, we investigated the effects of nano‐TiO₂ particles on the UV‐protective and structural properties of polypropylene (PP) textile filaments. Master batches of PP/TiO₂ nanoparticles were prepared by melt compounding before spinning, and filaments incorporating 0.3, 1, and 3% TiO₂ nanoparticles were spun in a pilot melt‐spinning machine. The structural properties of the nanocomposite fibers were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile tests. The UV‐protection factor was determined to evaluate the UV‐protective properties of the filaments. In conclusion, although the structure and mechanical properties of the nanocomposite filaments were slightly affected by the addition of nano‐TiO₂, the UV‐protective properties of the PP filaments improved after treatment with nano‐TiO₂, and the nanocomposite filaments exhibited excellent UV protection. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Novel feature of nano‐titanium dioxide on textiles: Antifelting and antibacterial wool

In this study, the antifelting and antibacterial features of wool samples treated with nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) were evaluated. To examine the antifelting properties of the treated samples, the fabric shrinkage after washing was determined. The antimicrobial activity was assessed through the calculation of bacterial reduction against Escherichia coli (Gram‐negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram‐positive) bacteria. TiO₂ was stabilized on the wool fabric surface by means of carboxylic acids, including citric acid (CA) and butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA). Both oxidized samples with potassium permanganate and nonoxidized wool fabrics were used in this study. The relations between both the TiO₂ and carboxylic acid concentrations in the impregnated bath and the antifelting and antibacterial properties are discussed. With increasing concentration in the impregnated bath, the amount of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the surface of the wool increased; subsequently, lower shrinkage and higher antibacterial properties were obtained. The existence of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the surface of the treated samples was proven with scanning electron microscopy images and energy‐dispersive spectrometry. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Study of the preparation and properties of UV‐blocking fabrics of a PET/TiO2 nanocomposite prepared by in situ polycondensation

Poly(ethylene phthalate) (PET)/nano‐TiO₂ composites prepared via in situ polymerization were spun into fiber by the melt‐spinning process. The dispersion of nanosized rutile TiO₂ in the PET was studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques. The mechanical properties and the properties of ultraviolet (UV) protection were investigated. The results showed that rutile TiO₂ can be dispersed uniformly by the in situ polycondensation process. The mechanical properties of PET/TiO₂ fiber were slightly affected by adding nano‐TiO₂. The UV‐ray transmittance of PET/nano‐TiO₂ fabrics was below 10% in the UV‐A band and below 1% in the UV‐B band. And the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of PET/nano‐TiO₂ fabrics was greater than 50. All these PET/TiO₂ nanocomposite fabrics exhibited excellent UV‐blocking properties. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 1588–1593, 2006     

Photocatalytic and antibacterial characteristics of decorated polyester textile with ceramic nanoparticles of cobalt ferrite

In this study, a multifunctional textile profiting from photocatalytic activity, magnetic, and antibacterial properties was generated through decorating polyester fabric with cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) nanoparticles using the co-precipitation technique. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results supported the successful decoration of fabrics with CoFe₂O₄ magnetic nanoparticles. Field emission electron scanning microscopy (FESEM) images accompanied by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses demonstrated the morphology, dispersion, and chemical structure of particles on the surface. The mean particle size of cobalt ferrite was measured to be approximately 40 nm. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) results confirmed the ferrimagnetic behavior of the decorated fabrics with saturation magnetization (M_s) and coercivity (H_c) of 1.8 emu/g and 1902 Oe, respectively. The UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectrum (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) data indicated the appropriate performance under visible light irradiation and postponed electron-hole recombination of the decorated fabric, respectively. The maximum MB degradation efficiency of 97% after 180 min of visible light illumination was obtained. The active species trapping analyses indicated that hydroxyl radicals (^●OH) were the effective species in the photocatalytic degradation mechanism. The decorated sample with the best photocatalytic activity revealed more than 99% reduction in the number of colonies against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria after 24 h contact time, which validated its excellent potential for antibacterial applications. Outstanding photocatalytic and antibacterial characteristics of the decorated textile with cobalt ferrite nanoparticles turn it into promising composite material for self-cleaning purposes.     

Durable UV-protective cotton fabric by deposition of multilayer TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles films on the surface

Durable ultraviolet (UV)-protective cotton fabric has great application potential in outdoor cotton clothing. In this study, oppositely charged TiO₂ nanoparticles were deposited onto cotton fabric through the layer-by-layer self-assembly technique, resulting in multilayer films with UV-protective properties. The mechanism of the technology has been investigated through characterization of the structure and properties using different techniques including FTIR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and a scanning electron microscope with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum. The results showed that TiO₂ nanoparticles distributed uniformly on the surface of cotton fibers. The TGA results indicated that the TiO₂ nanoparticles deposit on cotton fabrics had little effect on the thermal stability of cotton fabrics. The tensile strength and air permeability of the cotton samples were tested by a universal material testing machine and automatic ventilation instrument. The UV protection property of cotton fabric after assembled multilayer films was measured by an ultraviolet transmittance analyzer, and the laundering experiments were carried out to determine the durability of TiO₂ nanoparticles on cotton fabric. The results showed that the UV protection property of cotton fabrics after assembled TiO₂ nanoparticles was still maintained at a high level after five launderings.     

A facile dip‐coating approach to prepare SiO2/fluoropolymer coating for superhydrophobic and superoleophobic fabrics with self‐cleaning property

In this study, a facile, two‐step dip‐coating approach was reported for the fabrication of the superhydrophobic and superoleophobic cotton fabrics. It was confirmed that the superhydrophobic and superoleophobic composite thin film containing modified‐SiO₂ nanoparticles and fluoropolymer had been successfully fabricated on the cotton fabrics surface, the results demonstrated that the treated cotton fabrics showed good performances, such as superhydrophobicity and superoleophobicity, low water and oil absorption ability, self‐cleaning property and good laundering durability, so forth. The above approach can be applied to potentially advance superhydrophobic and superoleophobic fabrics materials for a variety of applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41458.     

Electrokinetic and antibacterial properties of needle like‐TiO2/polyrhodanine core/shell hybrid nanostructures

The aim of this study was to fabricate needle like‐TiO₂/polyrhodanine nanostructures by polymerizing rhodanine monomer on the TiO₂ nanoparticles' surfaces and investigate their antibacterial activities. The structural, thermal, morphological, surface and electrical properties of non‐covalently functionalized nanoparticles were characterized by using FTIR, XPS, elemental analysis, TGA, XRD, SEM‐EDX, TEM, contact angle, and conductivity measurements. Characterization results confirmed the formation of needle like‐TiO₂/polyrhodanine (PRh) core/shell hybrid nanostructures. Alterations on the surface and electrokinetic properties of the materials were characterized by zeta (ζ)‐potential measurements with the presence of various salts and surfactants. The ζ‐potential of needle like‐TiO₂ was observed to increase from ?7.6 mV to +28.4 mV after forming a core/shell needle like‐TiO₂/PRh nanocomposite structure and with the presence of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant. Thereby colloidally more stable dispersions were formed. Antibacterial properties of needle like‐TiO₂/PRh were also tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli by various methods and they showed good antibacterial activity. The highest killing efficiency was determined for needle like‐TiO₂/PRh against E. coli by colony‐counting method as 0.95. TEM experiments also showed the immobilizations of the nanoparticles on E. coli and revealed the interactions between E. coli and the nanoparticles. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41554.     

Photosensitive antibacterial and cytotoxicity performances of a TiO2/carboxymethyl chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite hydrogel by in situ radiation construction

Nano‐TiO₂/carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) ternary nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared by freezing–thawing cycles and electron‐beam radiation with PVA, CMCS, and nano‐TiO₂ as raw materials. The presence of nano‐TiO₂ nanoparticles in the composite hydrogels was confirmed by thermogravimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X‐ray powder diffraction. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images also illustrated that the TiO₂/CMCS/PVA hydrogel exhibited a porous and relatively regular three‐dimensional network structure; at the same time, there was the presence of embedded nano‐TiO₂ throughout the hydrogel matrix. In addition, the nano‐TiO₂/CMCS/PVA composite hydrogels displayed significant antibacterial activity with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as bacterial models. The antibacterial activity was demonstrated by the antibacterial circle method, plate count method, and cell density method. Also, with the Alamar Blue assay, the cytotoxicity of the composite hydrogel materials to L929 cells was studied. The results suggest that these materials had no obvious cytotoxicity. Thus, we may have developed a novel, good biocompatibility hydrogel with inherent photosensitive antibacterial activity with great potential for applications in the fields of cosmetics, medical dressings, and environmental protection. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44150.     

A review of antimicrobial fabric containing nanostructures metal‐based compound

Textile can be a potential microorganism's propagation site because it contacts with human skin endows optimal conditions combination of nutrient sources, temperature, and moisture which provides conducive environment for microorganism growth. Thus, the development of antibacterial textile is crucial to inhibit the growth of microorganisms for protection the health and safety of wearer. This review article focuses on several metal‐based nanoparticles possess biocidal feature namely, Ag, ZnO, Cu based, TiO₂, and other minor metals based such as iron based, CeO₂, Au, SiO₂, Ni, and Pt. The phenomenology of metal nanoparticles associated to the antibacterial effects and possible mechanisms of action against bacteria have been highlighted. This review also discussed the synthesis techniques and effects of incorporation additive materials of those metal‐based nanoparticles to inhibit the growth of microorganisms. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2017. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Antibacterial performance of TiO2 ultrafine nanopowder synthesized by a chemical vapor condensation method: Effect of synthesis temperature and precursor vapor concentration

TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized using a chemical vapor condensation (CVC) method, and their physicochemical properties were characterized to optimize the synthesis conditions for antibacterial activity. The antibacterial activities of CVC-TiO₂ nanoparticles and commercialized TiO₂ nanoparticles (P25, Deggusa) were investigated according to UV exposure time and amount of photocatalyst. We found that the specific surface area and the crystallinity of CVC-TiO₂ nanoparticles were varied depending on synthesis temperature and precursor vapor concentration. As a result, the CVC-TiO₂ nanoparticles showed a higher specific surface area and better crystallinity than that of P25TiO₂. More importantly, CVC-TiO₂ nanoparticles generated a larger amount of hydroxyl radicals than P25TiO₂. Consequently CVC-TiO₂ nanoparticles were more effective as an antibacterial photocatalyst than P25TiO₂ under irradiation with UV light. Based-on these results, the optimum synthetic conditions of CVC-TiO₂ nanoparticles for bactericidal effect were found.     

The effect of TiO2 nanopigment on the optical properties of polyester fabric in UV–VIS–NIR regions

The particle size parameter is a key factor that affects radiative properties of nanopigments, and consequently, pigments of the same type but different sizes represent different spectral performance. Therefore, current study dealt with a systematic experimental investigation on the effect of TiO₂ pigmented coatings on spectral reflectance and color performance of white and colored polyester fabrics in UV, VIS, and NIR region of electromagnetic spectrum, with a special emphasis on VIS region. In order to accomplish this target, polyester fabrics were coated with TiO₂ nanopigment with various concentrations and different diameters, and their reflectance spectra were measured using spectrophotometric method. Two‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was utilized to investigate the significance of the effect of TiO₂ nanopigment on the color performance of coated fabrics. According to experimental observations, an organized color shift appears in color coordinate of fabrics coated with TiO₂ nanopigment of various sizes. Moreover, although TiO₂ nanopigment with 35 nm diameter has the most significant impact on short wavelength region (UV region), the effect of pigment with 250 nm diameter is more noticeable on NIR region as long wavelength region.     

Amidohydroxylated polyester with biophotoactivity along with retarding alkali hydrolysis through in situ synthesis of Cu/Cu2O nanoparticles using diethanolamine

In this research, polyester fabric was modified through in situ synthesis of Cu/Cu₂O nanoparticles (NPs) in one single step processing using diethanolamine. This introduced amide and hydroxyl active groups on the polyester surface, adjusted pH, aminolyzed, and improved the surface activity of polyester. Copper sulfate was used as precursor, sodium hypophosphite as a reducing agent and polyvinylpyrrolidone as a stabilizer in a chemical reduction route at boil as a facile and cost‐effective approach. The central composite design was also utilized to optimize the processing conditions and study the effect of each variables on the weight gain, color change, and wettability of the treated fabrics. FESEM and mapping, EDX, XRD, and FTIR analysis confirmed effective assembling of Cu/Cu₂O NPs on the amidohydroxylated polyester surface. The optimum treated fabric showed excellent antibacterial properties on both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In addition, a very good photocatalytic activity towards degradation of methylene blue solution obtained after 24 h sunlight irradiation. Further, the hydrophilicity, mechanical properties and stability of the treated fabrics in concentrated sodium hydroxide improved through formation of amidohydroxyl active groups, amidoester cross‐linking and nanocross‐linking within polymeric chains through in situ synthesis of Cu/Cu₂O. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44856.     

Pretreatment of wool/polyester blended fabrics to enhance titanium dioxide nanoparticle adsorption and self‐cleaning properties

This research aims to enhance the self‐cleaning properties of fibre‐blended fabric using surface pretreatment prior to the application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. To this end, the polyester/wool fabric was modified, in that the wool fibres were oxidised with potassium permanganate and the polyester fibres were hydrolysed with lipase before nano processing. Butane tetracarboxylic acid was also used to enhance the adsorption of the nanoparticles and also to stabilise them on the fabric surface. The self‐cleaning properties of the fabric were examined through staining of the fabric with CI Basic Blue 9 and then discolouring by exposing to ultraviolet and daylight irradiation. Some other properties of the treated fabrics, such as water drop absorption, crease recovery angle and bending were investigated and are discussed in detail. The colour changes of different samples indicated an appropriate discoloration on the titanium dioxide‐treated fabrics after ultraviolet and daylight irradiation. Overall, the surface pretreatment of the wool and polyester fibres improved the self‐cleaning properties of the fabric significantly.     

Application of hydrophilic finished of synthetic fabrics coated with CMC/acrylic acid cured by electron beam irradiation in the removal of metal cations from aqueous solutions

Modified textile fabrics were used to remove Cu⁺² and Cr⁺³ ions from aqueous solutions. For this purpose, modified Nylon‐6, polyester woven and knitted fabrics were prepared by coating the surface with a thin layer of aqueous solution of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and acrylic acid (AAc) of thickness 25 μm. Radiation crosslinking of the coated layer was carried out by electron beam irradiation with a constant dose of 30 kGy. Morphology of the coated fabrics was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) which indicated the compatibility between the coated layer and fabrics. Properties attributed to the hydrophilicity, especially water uptake and weight loss before and after several washing cycles were followed up. The effect of AAc concentration on the hydrophilic properties of the coated fabrics was studied. A considerable enhancement in water uptake has been attained on increasing AAc content in solution in case of nylon‐6 followed by polyester woven followed by polyester knitted fabrics. The performances of the modified textile fabrics were evaluated for the recovery of Cu⁺² and Cr⁺³ from aqueous solution. The metal ion absorption efficiency of the modified textile fabrics was measured using UV Spectrophotometer analysis and EDX. Parameters affecting the efficiency of these textile fabrics in the removal of metal ions from aqueous solution namely, concentration of AAc and the immersion time were studied. It was found that there was a marked increase in the recovery of metal ions on increasing both immersion time and concentration of AAc. This study evidences that the modified textile fabrics can be used for the purpose of removal of some heavy metals such as Cu and Cr. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Core‐shell ZrO2/PMMA composites via dispersion polymerization in supercritical fluid: Synthesis,characterization and mechanism

In this study, the polyester (PET) fabric was hydrolyzed with alkali to increase the surface activity and enhance the nano titanium dioxide (nano-TiO₂) adsorption to produce higher functionality. The PET fabric was first treated with sodium hydroxide along with cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide as a cationic surfactant and then dipped into an ultrasound bath containing nano-TiO₂ followed by curing at high temperature. The weight loss, vertical wicking, and water droplet adsorption time were evaluated and are reported. The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ nanoparticles deposited on the PET fabric was examined by the degradation of methylene blue as a model stain under daylight irradiation. The residual TiO₂ on the fabric surface after 1 and 10 successive washings was determined to indicate the washing durability of the finished fabric. Also, the UV protection was assessed by UV reflectance spectroscopy. The scanning electron microscopy pictures and energy-dispersive X-ray spectra of some fabrics are also reported. The surface hydrolysis of the PET fabric with sodium hydroxide created some voids and hydrophilic groups on the fabric surface; this led to the higher adsorption of nano-TiO₂ particles and enhanced the wettability, vertical wicking, and higher durability against repeated washings of the nano-TiO₂ treated fabric. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Preparation of nano‐TiO2/polystyrene hybride microspheres and their antibacterial properties

This study provided a facile method to prepare nano‐TiO₂/polystyrene hybride microspheres in ethanol solution. The formation of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles and hybrid microspheres were verified by FTIR, SEM, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X‐ray powder diffraction. Monodispersed colloid TiO₂ nanoparticles with small particle sizes were obtained, and the average particle size could be effectively controlled from about 10 nm. The antibacterial activity of the organic microspheres and hybride microspheres was also investigated against Escherichia coli. They were able to efficiently inhibit the growth and the multiplication of E. coli under the UV. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Development of novel tunable light scattering coating materials for fiber optic diffusers in photodynamic cancer therapy

To homogenize light emitted from fiber optic diffusers for photodynamic therapy (PDT), novel coating materials with tunable properties were designed. A class VI medical grade UV‐curable acrylic resin for biomedical applications was used for the polymer matrix, and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was added to the resin as a scattering agent. UV‐curability of coatings containing TiO₂ was significantly influenced by the grade and surface treatment of the TiO₂ studied. Despite using a free‐radical system without inert gas protection, all samples demonstrated considerable thermal postcuring. A novel TiO₂ surface treatment methodology was developed based on unsaturated alkoxyorganosilanes combined with unsaturated carboxylic acids for compatibilizing TiO₂ for use in the resin material studied. By adjusting the concentration of the surface‐modifying agent, the scattering efficiency and UV curability can be controlled by decreasing the effective particle size and enhancing the dispersibility of the powder filler within the resin. This modification will enable fine‐tuning of the effective size of TiO₂ particles to the wavelength of laser light to be scattered to maximize scattering efficiency in photodynamic cancer therapy and possibly also in other forms of cancer treatment (interstitial laser hyperthermia or interstitial laser photocoagulation). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009