New paints "could kill superbugs"
Friday 12th September 2008
Source of Article: http://www.hospitalhealthcare.com/default.asp?title=Newpaints%22couldkillsuperbugs%22&page=article.display&article.id=13445
Scientists
have come up with a range of hi-tech paints that release tiny bacteria-killing
particles when activated by fluorescent lights, meaning they could be used to
kill hospital superbugs.
The paints – developed by nanotechnology experts at
They contain tiny particles of titanium dioxide – the dazzling white compound
often used as a brightener in commercial paints, or in the powder used for the
white lines to mark out the courts at
These particles can kill bacteria and destroy dirt when they absorb ultraviolet
light energy from the sun. They produce active molecules that clean the painted
surfaces.
The researchers looked at the survival of the food poisoning bacterium Escherichia
coli on different formulations of paints containing the titanium nanoparticles under different types and intensities of
lights.
Lead researcher Lucia Caballero said: "We found that paints containing
titanium dioxide are more successful at killing bacteria if the concentration
of the nanoparticles is stronger than in normal
paint. Our best results showed that all the E coli were killed under
ordinary fluorescent lights."
The findings were presented at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn meeting at
___________
Copyright (C) All rights reserved
under FoodHACCP.com
If
you have any comments, please send your
email to info@foodhaccp.com
