Nanomaterials to destroy bacteria developed
Nanomaterials that destroy even the most resistant bacteria causing nosocomial infection have been developed by scientists from Wrocław University of Technology, Wrocław Medical University and the University of Limerick in Ireland.
New technology consists in covering the fabric with titanium dioxide
nanoparticles, which give the material bactericidal properties.
According to the Wrocław University of Technology biomedical engineering
and measuring institute's director Prof. Halina Podbielska, under light
nanomaterials spontaneously begin to destroy bacteria.
"If,
however, a bacteria does not want to detach, the material coated with
nanoparticles can be purified in our specially designed photosterilizer
with UV rays. Saving achieved with this type of activity are enormous,
because disposable aprons are consumed in large quantities, and our
fabrics can be reused" - said Podbielska.
She emphasised that in
the future nanoparticles can be used to cover not only medical gowns,
but also curtains and carpets, thus avoiding the transmission of
bacteria by hospital staff or visitors. "Our invention can also be used,
for example, to cover the towels in hotels and at swimming pools,
dental chairs, seat covers on planes - she listed possible applications.
According
to Jacek Żegliński of the University of Limerick, scientists are trying
to use the minimum number of molecules and attach them as strongly as
possible to the test material. "The idea is that they, for example, do
not detach from the fabric in the washing machine. Visually the material
coated with nanoparticles does not differ from normal material, because
they are so small that the naked eye will not notice them" - said
Żegliński.
Work on textiles with antimicrobial properties was
carried out within the consortium implementing the BioElectricSurface
project funded by the European Commission. (PAP)
last modification: 2011-04-11
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