A group of scientists at Georgia Tech have developed a antibacterial steel which does not require treatments with chemical agents or antibiotics. This innovative steel, covered with nanoscopic needles, is capable of piercing the cell membrane of bacteria, killing them.
How antibacterial steel works
To make steel effective against bacteria, researchers used nanostructures similar to long needles. These needles pierce the cell membrane of the bacteria, destroying them. In addition, they filed copper ions on the surface of the steel to further improve its antibacterial properties.
The modified steel showed a 97% reduction the presence of E. Coli (a Gram-negative bacterium) and the 99% of staphylococcus (Gram-positive). This shows that steel is effective against both bacteria with a more permeable cell membrane and those with a thicker, multilayered cell membrane.
Future applications
The minimal use of copper makes this steel antibacterial can be produced at low cost on a large scale. It could be used in many industries:
- Medical-surgical: for scissors, forceps or operating tables.
- Hospitaller: for door handles and stair handrails.
- Food industry: for tools and containers.
- Domestic use: in restaurant kitchens and in our homes.
The next step is to test the effectiveness of this material with other types of bacteria. Anuja Tripathi, coordinator of the study, says that given the success against E. Coli, it is likely that steel can also eliminate other similar bacteria.
What do you think of this new technology? Could it also be useful in your daily life?
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