BACKGROUND: Photocatalytic degradation of pollen components on titanium dioxide nanofunctionalized materials was studied for gymnosperm (Cupressus Arizonica) and angiosperm (Platanus Hybrida acerifolia). RESULTS: Scanning electron microscopy revealed structural degradation of both exine and intine strata. Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy was applied to characterize chemical modification of the pollen grains subjected to photocatalysis. Study of physical properties modification for the pollen extracts was carried out through spectrophotometry and wettability tests. It was found that photocatalysis resulted in significant decrease of C-H and C-O groups and a moderate decrease in C = O. Also, chromaticity values of the pollen extract after photocatalysis tended to approach those of the substrate. Contact angle of water dispersion of the pollen extract was not altered by photocatalysis, but adherence of the components of the pollen extract to Si substrate considerably decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together these results provided solid evidence for the degradation of all pollen components including exine and intine enzymes on nanofunctionalized photocatalytic materials. (C) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry