Preparation, characterization and evaluation of the zinc titanate and silver nitrate incorporated wipes for topical chemical and biological decontamination

Publication date: Available online 17 October 2018Source: Materials Science and Engineering: CAuthor(s): Navneet Sharma, Mamta Chaudhary, Bhupendra Singh Butola, Joseph Kingston Jeyabalaji, Dharm Pal Pathak, Rakesh Kumar SharmaAbstractChemical and biological warfare agents have detrimental effects on biological systems. These agents are rapidly absorbed through skin and hence warrant immediate decontamination. Zinc titanate (ZnTiO3), is a well-proven moiety used for neutralizing chemical warfare agents (CWA) and silver is widely used as an antibacterial agent. Spacer fabric sheet, due to its ability to hold large amount of agents, was hydrothermally treated with silver nitrate (AgNO3) and incorporated with nano ZnTiO3 to prepare decontamination (deconwipes). Prepared deconwipe was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Uniform deposition of nano ZnTiO3 and AgNO3 in the wipe was demonstrated by SEM and XRD. In-vivo dermal decontamination efficacy of the prepared deconwipe was evaluated against nerve agent simulant (diethylchlorophosphate; DCP) and sulfur mustard simulant (2‑chloroethyl ethyl sulfide; CEES) on rat model using SEM, Flow Cytometry, Comet Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition assay and Organ Histopathology. In-vitro antibacterial and antifungal efficacy of the prepared deconwipe was evaluated using growth inhibitory efficacy techniques followed by SEM analysis. SEM and histopathology at dermal level revealed the deco...
Source: Materials Science and Engineering: C - Category: Materials Science Source Type: research