Adedoyin AT¹* and Ogunsona SB²

¹School of Architecture and Planning, Morgan State University, USA
²Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Adedoyin AT, School of Architecture and Planning, Morgan State University, USA.

Received: February 25, 2025; Published: March 18, 2024

Abstract

The quality of indoor air is of great importance to inhabitants as its pollution incur great health risks, also leads to compromise of the sustainability of built environments, lending credence to the urgent need for innovative lasting solutions that would enhance air quality without reducing the standard of sustainable architecture principles. Nanomaterials through the emergence of nanotechnology in this fourth industrial revolution have led to the production of nanoparticles with unique physico-chemical properties greater than the parent materials. These particles that are a thousand times smaller than a micron have offered transformative potential in this domain. This review explores the role of nanotechnology in improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and advancing sustainable architectural practices. The mechanisms through which metallic nanoparticles improves indoor air quality are unprecedented. Nanoparticles such as photocatalytic Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles and adsorptive agents like graphenso e and carbon nanotubes which are capable of removing pollutants like particulate matter, bioaerosols and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) indoors. Also, antimicrobial silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles which are potent against mycotoxigenic fungi; their antifungal potentials help in reducing moulds exospores in indoor air thus improving its quality. The integration of these materials into building components, such as paints, coatings, and structural elements to mention a few are discussed within the confines of architectural sustainability, air purification and quality. With the interplay of IAQ improvement and sustainable architecture, this article exemplifies nanotechnology's role in innovation toward healthier, greener indoor environments and further advocates for innovation and collaborations across disciplines in this area.

Keywords: Architecture; Indoor-air-quality; Nanotechnology; Nanoparticles; Sustainability; Mycotoxigenic; Mould; Limitations

References

1. Pekdogan T. “Evaluating the Impact of Building Materials on Indoor Air Quality: A Critical Analysis”. Sakarya University Journal of Science (2024).
2. Astolfi A and Pellerey F. “Subjective and objective assessment of acoustical and overall environmental quality in secondary school classrooms”. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America1 (2008): 163-173.
3. Iluyomade TD and Okwandu AC. “Innovative materials in sustainable construction: A review”. International Journal of Science and Research Archive1 (2024): 2435-2447.
4. Okwandu AC., et al. “Sustainable architecture: Envisioning self-sustaining buildings for the future”. International Journal of Management and Entrepreneurship Research (2024).
5. Wagdi D., et al. “Materials Selection for Improved Indoor Air Quality in Residential Buildings: a Pre-occupancy Assessment”. (2015).
6. Al-Taie A., et al. “Recycled aggregate blends for backfilling deep trenches in trafficable areas”. Construction and Building Materials 401 (2023): 132942.
7. Andrew JJ and Dhakal H N. “Sustainable biobased composites for advanced applications: recent trends and future opportunities–A critical review”. Composites Part C: Open Access 7 (2022): 100220.
8. Zerari S., et al. “The potential impacts of using bio-based building materials on human health and wellbeing”. E3S Web of Conferences 436 (2023): 01006
9. Feng X., et al. “Occurrence and human health risks of phthalates in indoor air of laboratories”. Science of The Total Environment 707 (2020): 135609.
10. Alia RA and Kharofab OH. "The impact of nanomaterials on sustainable architectural applications smart concrete as a model". Materials Today: Proceedings 42 (2020): 3010-3017.
11. Alhmoud SH. “Sustainability of Development and Application of Nanomaterials in Healthcare within Hospital Settings”. International Journal of Civil Engineering6 (2024): 79-97.
12. Oladipo IC and Ogunsona SB. “The Utilization of Agro-Waste: A Nanobiotechnology Point of View”. Recent Advances in Biological Research 5. B P International (2019).
13. Dhir R., et al. “Sustainable Construction Materials: Sewage Sludge Ash". Woodhead Publishing (2017).
14. Mohajerani A., et al. “Nanoparticles in Construction Materials and Other Applications, and Implications of Nanoparticle Use". Materials (Basel)19 (2019): 3052.
15. Topçu İB., et al. “Self-Cleaning Concretes: An Overview". Journal of Cement Based Composites 1.2 (2020): 6-11.
16. Usama K and Hendm M. "A Proposed Strategy to Evaluate Nanomaterials in Construction to Boost Sustainable Architecture". Civil Engineering and Architecture7 (2022): 3206-3226.
17. Khandve P. "Nanotechnology for building material". International Journal of Basic Applied Research 4 (2014): 146-151.
18. “What is Nano Coating? Is It Really Important?” (2022).
19. Health I.o.O.S.a. Nanotechnology in Construction and Demolition Guidance for industry; Loughborough University (2017).
20. Solano R., et al. “Preparation of modified paints with nano-structured additives and its potential applications”. Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology 10 (2020): 1–17.
21. Olawore AS., et al. “Enhancing Functionalities of Paints with Nanoparticles: A Review”. Nano Plus: Science and Technology of Nanomaterials 2 (2021): 97-119.
22. Nyamutswa LT., et al. “Light conducting photocatalytic membrane for chemical-free fouling control in water treatment”. Journal of Membrane Science 604 (2020): 118018.
23. Asafa TB., et al. “Physicomechanical properties of emulsion paint embedded with silver nanoparticles”. Bulletin of Material Science7 (2021): 1-11.
24. Hai LH. “The effect of SiO2 nanoparticles in polyurethane paint formulation on metal surfaces”. International Journal of Science and Research Archive1 (2021): 031– 036
25. Arun T., et al. “Facile synthesized novel hybrid graphene oxide/cobalt ferrite magnetic nanoparticles based surface coating material inhibit bacterial secretion pathway for antibacterial effect”. Materials Science and Engineering C 104 (2019): 109932.
26. Ahou Akbar Haghıghat and Emine Görgül. “Emergence of Nanomaterials in Interior Architecture of Healthcare Domain”. International Journal of Architecture and Urban Studies 2 (2016): 48-58.
27. Marco Valente., et al. “Geopolymers vs. Cement Matrix Materials: How Nanofiller Can Help a Sustainability Approach for Smart Construction Applications A Review”. Nanomaterials 8 (2021): 1-34.
28. Ajit B. “Self-Cleaning Materials”. Advanced Materials (2022): 359-394.
29. Shashwat S., et al. “A Review on Bioinspired Strategies for an Energy-Efficient Built Environment”. Energy and Buildings (2023): 296.
30. Yongqiang Li., et al. “Highly Transparent and Scratch Resistant Polysiloxane Coatings Containing Silica Nanoparticles”. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 559 (2020): 273-281.
31. Mann S. “Nanotechnology and Construction”. 2006, Nanoforum-European Nanotechnology Gateway: Institute of Nanotechnology, (2006).
32. Jesse T Jacob., et al. “The Role of the Hospital Environment in Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections Caused by Pathogens Transmitted through the Air”. HERD: Health Environments Research and Design Journal 7.1 (2013): 74-98.
33. Aryatama R., et al. “Microbiology Indoor Air Quality at Hospital during the Covid19 Pandemic”. Jurnal Kesehatan Lingkungan1 (2020): 89-92.
34. Denver P Linklater., et al. “Current Perspectives on the Development of Virucidal Nano Surfaces”. Current Opinion in Colloid and Interface Science10 (2023).
35. Sadia Afroz., et al. “Self-Cleaning Textiles: Structure, Fabrication and Applications”. Fundamentals of Natural Fibres and Textiles (2021): 557-597.
36. Skocaj M., et al. “Titanium dioxide in our everyday life; is it safe?” Radiology and Oncology4 (2011).
37. Huseien G F., et al. “Sustainability of nanomaterials based self-healing concrete: An all-inclusive insight”. Journal of Building Engineering 23 (2019): 155-171.
38. Khan K., et al. “Nano-Silica-Modified Concrete: A bibliographic analysis and comprehensive review of material properties”. Nanomaterials 12 (2022): 1989.
39. Zoroddu MA., et al. “Toxicity of nanoparticles”. Current Medicinal Chemistry 21 (2014): 3837-3853.
40. Liu JY and Sayes CM. “A toxicological profile of silica nanoparticles”. Toxicology Research4 (2022): 565-582.
41. Jia G., et al. “Cytotoxicity of Carbon Nanomaterials: Single-Wall Nanotube, Multi-Wall Nanotube, and Fullerene”. Environmental Science and Technology5 (2005): 1378-1383.
42. Hussain S M., et al. “In vitro toxicity of nanoparticles in BRL 3A rat liver cells”. Toxicology In vitro7 (2005): 975-983.

Citation

Citation: Adedoyin AT and Ogunsona SB. “Harnessing Nanomaterials for Indoor Air Quality Improvement and Sustainable Architecture".Acta Scientific Microbiology 8.4 (2025): 21-26.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Adedoyin AT and Ogunsona SB. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.