As a result of the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant microbes, traditional treatments have lost effectiveness which creates a need for new iterations of antimicrobial agents. Metal-metal oxide nanoparticles (MMO-NP) show promise as an alternative to topical antibiotics as they are capable of slowly releasing metal ions upon oxidation. This release in turn promotes toxicity to prokaryotes via lysis of the cell wall or disruption of intracellular functions. This work will focus on the synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial efficacy (AME) of TiO₂ nanoparticles that are functionalized via direct photoreduction of Cu²⁺ and Ag⁺. Particle size and the isoelectric point of samples were determined in order to gain further insight into surface modification of TiO₂. Spectroscopic analysis was used to observe shifts in the bandgap of TiO₂ in order to elucidate the contribution of organometallic complexes in the reduction of the metal ions. The AME of the MMO-NP was observed in the form of a thin film and in a hydrogel matrix, utilizing E. coli as a model microbe. Kirby-Bauer testing was implemented in order to observe the extent of metal ion leaching, indicating a diffusion and/or adsorption-driven process. Epi-fluorescent optical imaging was used to observe the kinetics of bacterial inhibition as well as the mechanism of cell death.