Nano-based antimicrobial paint is created
chemists have developed a low-cost, environmentally friendly
nanotechnology for producing antimicrobial, vegetable oil-based
paints.
The technique created by researchers at the City College
of New York and Rice University embeds antimicrobial silver
nanoparticles into the paints. Although silver's antibacterial,
non-toxic properties have been known for centuries, coatings
containing antimicrobial agents have failed commercially
due to their high cost of production.
"We extensively worked on polyunsaturated hydrocarbon
chains containing polymers/oils to devise a novel approach
to nanoparticle formation," said Professor George John
of CCNY, the lead author of the study.
Study co-author Professor Pulickel Ajayan of Rice University
said the simplicity of the process and economics should
allow the commercialization of the new paints as a versatile
coating material for health and environmental applications.
"Using the same approach we should be able to produce
a large variety of nanoparticle dispersions useful in applications
ranging from healthcare to catalysis," added co-investigator
Ashavani Kumar, a postdoctoral research associate at Rice.
The scientists said the nanoparticle-embedded coating can
be applied as are traditional paints to such surfaces as
metal, wood, polymers, glass and ceramics
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