A killer paint job
Nanoparticles in paint possible ‘superbug’ fighter
Scientists may soon shed light on a way to conquer “superbugs” with nanotechnology and a simple flip of a switch.
A new type of paint for walls and ceilings may, when exposed to fluorescent light, be able to kill “superbugs,” antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to preliminary studies led by Lucia Caballero from ManchesterMetropolitanUniversity in England. Many paints are infused with titanium dioxide for its brightening power. But when these particles are small, on the nanoscale of a billionth of a meter, they have more surface area exposed to light. As a result, they create a more reactive environment.