Dr. Asmaa Issa Mahmoud obtains a patent on the biosynthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles by Bacillus cereus

Dr. Asmaa Issa Mahmoud, a professor at the College of Applied Sciences at the University of Samarra, and in partnership with Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nazeer Maarouf, a professor at the University of Tikrit, obtained a patent on “Biosynthesis of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles by Bacillus cereus.”

The study included the use of the bacteria Bacillus cereus, which is one of the most widespread bacteria in nature. This use came to reduce titanium dioxide particles and convert them into nanoparticles through their ability to secrete many extracellular enzymes.
These bacterial species were incubated in a vibrating incubator in a medium consisting of glucose, yeast extract, malt, and peptone for a dense growing medium.
The bacterial culture underwent a centrifugation process to obtain the metabolites of B. cereus, which were used to manufacture the nanoparticles.
The characteristics of titanium dioxide nanoparticles synthesized by B. cereus were determined using UV-visible. (XRD) (AFM) (SEM).

This patent can be applied by taking advantage of the ability of this widespread bacterial species in nature to synthesize titanium dioxide nanoparticles and use them as anti-material for many bacterial infections, in addition to using titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the medical fields as an anti-material for biofilm formation, especially in the manufacture of Teeth and catheters, as well as preserving environmental safety through the production of nanomaterials in an environmentally friendly, biological way, as they are formed without any toxic or polluting products.
Also, this method has many advantages through which it is possible to shorten the time and effort in the biomanufacturing process of nanoparticles; Because this type of bacteria grows in normal aerobic conditions and within 24 hours. B. cereus is widespread in soil and can be isolated easily. As this bacterial type does not cause pathological infections, it does not need special laboratory conditions when dealt with it.
On the other hand, the economic feasibility of this discovery lies in its being safe, cheap, and environmentally friendly and its importance in the medical field as it represents a promising target for combating pathogenic microorganisms resistant to antibiotics.