During his PhD studies, Toni Vitasovic firstly researched the antibacterial properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles in a comparative study with Zn²⁺ ions, as potent antibiotic alternatives. Following that, Toni charaterized a system comprised of horseradish peroxidase and zinc oxide nanoparticles using electrochemical methods, namely to confirm zinc oxide’s ability of producing hydrogen peroxide.

The new findings contribute to the growing field of non-traditional antibacterial agents, considering a global antimicrobial resistance threat and the need for milder cleaning methods of industrial equipment.

The PhD study was completed at Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 25 August 2023 at 13:15
Place: Building 1593, room 012, iNANO auditorium, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus-C
Title of PhD thesis: Nanobiohybrid Solutions for Biotransformation and Antimicrobial Formulations: Fusing Nature with Nanotechnology
Contact information: Toni Vitasovic, e-mail: tvitasovic@gmail.com, tel.: +45 71680131

Members of the assessment committee:
Senior Scientist Deepak Pant, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Belgium

Professor Angela Ivask, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Estonia

Associate Professor Victoria Birkedal, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:
Associate Professor Elena E. Ferapontova, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Denmark

Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English
The defence is public.

The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS, Jens Baggesens Vej 53, building 5221, 8200 Aarhus N.