First Broad-spectrum Anti-microbial Paint
To Kill Mold and 'Superbugs'
A new antimicrobial paint could disinfect and decorate
as it can kill harmful bacteria, fungi, mold and viruses. (Credit: The
American Chemical Society)
ScienceDaily (Apr. 21, 2009)
— Scientists in South Dakota are reporting development of the first
broad-spectrum antimicrobial paint, a material that can simultaneously
kill not just disease-causing bacteria but mold, fungi, and viruses.
Designed to both decorate and disinfect homes, businesses, and health-care
settings, the paint is the most powerful to date, according to their new
study.
The paint
shows special promise for fighting so-called "superbugs,"
antibiotic-resistant microbes that infect hospital surfaces and cause an
estimated 88,000 deaths annually in the United States, the researchers
say.
In the
study, Yuyu Sun and Zhengbing Cao note in the antimicrobial paints already
on are store shelves. These paints, however, are only effective against a
narrow range of disease-causing microorganisms, limiting their usefulness.
The
scientists already were aware of research on the germ-killing effects of
that N-halamines, bleach-like substances already in wide use. They
developed a new antimicrobial polymer that includes a type of N-halamine.
It has no undesirable effects on the quality of latex paints. Laboratory
tests showed that the new polymer kills a wide range of disease-causing
microbes including those resistant to multiple antibiotics. The paint
retains an anti-microbial punch for extended periods, and it can be easily
"recharged" with a simple chlorination process, the researchers note.
Journal reference:
Cao et al. Polymeric N-Halamine Latex Emulsions for Use in
Antimicrobial Paints. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces,
2009; 1 (2): 494 DOI:
10.1021/am800157a American Chemical Society (2009, April 21). First
Broad-spectrum Anti-microbial Paint To Kill 'Superbugs'. ScienceDaily.
Retrieved April 24, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com
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