Hospitals Nanotechnology Paints
New nanotechnology paints for walls, ceilings and surfaces could be used to eliminate hospital super bugs when fluorescent lights are lit, that’s what scientists have seen announced September 10, 2008 during the fall meeting of the Society for General Microbiology held at Trinity College, Dublin.
The new paints contain tiny particles of titanium dioxide, a component of whiteness often used as a whitener in paints business. It would also be familiar to tennis fans as the powder used to draw the white lines of course Wimbledon.
Scientists have discovered that tiny shapes, the size of nanoparticles of titanium dioxide can kill bacteria and destroy dirt when they absorb energy from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. They produce active molecules which clean the painted surfaces.
“It would be even better than titanium becomes antibacterial light wavelengths lying inside, such as fluorescent light, so that paints containing the nanoparticles can be used in hospitals and Other areas requiring a clean environment, “says Lucia Caballero from Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
The researchers examined the survival of the bacterium Escherichia coli food poisoning in the context of different formulations of paints containing titanium particles from various types and intensities of lights. “We found that paints containing titanium dioxide are able to eliminate more bacteria if the concentration of nanoparticles is stronger than in normal paint. The best results showed that E. coli were removed under ordinary fluorescent light, “pointed Lucia Caballero.
“However, other common components of painting, such as calcium carbonate, silica or talc, reduce the effectiveness of antibacterial paint. In the presence of calcium carbonate, the removal rate dropped to 80%, “said Lucia Caballero. “Our tests on the type of paint available on the market revealed that the ability of paint to kill bacteria was massively reduced compared to a paint formula not containing such components. ”
With rising concerns about the spread of super bugs in hospitals, medical care trusts are looking increasingly to find better ways to maintain hygiene standards in hospitals. These same concerns are stimulating developments in the food industry and pharmaceutical companies. These new nanoparticle paints could provide a simple and inexpensive.
“Premises such as bathrooms and child care, public toilets and domestic all benefit from good hygiene control,” said Lucia Caballero. “In all these places, surface hygiene could be improved by the action of fluorescent light on catalytic surfaces such as paints containing nanotitanium. This would slow down contamination and would save on the cost of maintenance and cleaning.
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