THE GOLDEN TOUCH: A HUMAN-FRIENDLY ANTIBACTERIAL COATING

Nanocomposite Coating Kills Bacteria, But is Non-Toxic to Humans

Scientists at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw have developed a gold nanoparticle technology that kills microbes and is also safe for humans and the environment. In recent times, the antibacterial applications of silver have been much discussed, however concerns over its potential toxicity remain. The Polish researchers claim they have found a safer alternative to silver that is as equally as good at killing bacteria. The scientists gold-based coating is reported to be very chemically stable and is able to tolerate repeated washings with cleaning products.

The object to be coated with the antibacterial material is first immersed in a liquid boron compound solution that contains colloidal gold nanoparticles. A polymerizing agent is subsequently added which produces a nanocomposite polymer that coats the object in a short space of time. Lab tests showed that cultures of E. coli and Staph. aureus bacteria shrank “by up to 90 percent within 12 hours of exposure to the nanocomposite.” The gold nanoparticles remain stable and only affect bacteria that make direct contact with them, which makes the coating a human-friendly material. The coating could have many potential medical applications, such as in wound dressings.