Multifunctional Cyclic Olefin Copolymer-Titanium Dioxide-Based Nanocomposites for Enhanced Antibacterial and Biocompatible Properties

The growing demand for multifunctional materials in biomedical and packaging applications necessitates the development of advanced nanocomposites with superior mechanical, barrier, and antibacterial properties. This study presents cyclic olefin copolymer (COC)/titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanocomposite films fabricated through the facile solution casting method, incorporating TiO₂ at concentrations of 1, 3, and 5 wt %. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed effective TiO₂ dispersion at lower concentrations, while agglomeration was observed at 5 wt %. The incorporation of TiO₂ significantly enhanced barrier properties, reducing water vapor permeability from 80.67 to 29.99 g/m² h and oxygen permeability from 7.66 to 2.78 mg/mL. Mechanical properties showed marked improvement, with tensile strength increasing by 113% and tensile modulus by 81.3% at 3 wt % TiO₂. Antibacterial tests demonstrated efficacy against <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, while cytotoxicity studies confirmed the biocompatibility of the films. These findings highlight the potential of COC/TiO₂ nanocomposites for applications, such as antibacterial coatings, wound healing patches, and high-performance packaging.