Light Sensitive Antimicrobial Surface

Hospital acquired infections have taken greater urgency since hospitals are no longer be compensated for treating in-patients who became infected.  Thus, antimicrobial materials research has accelerated.  In this piece, researchers at University College London have developed a way of impregnating silicon coatings with two light sensitive blue dyes and gold nanoparticles.  With normal light levels (and even in the dark) the material produces enough reactive oxygen radicals to kill most bacteria.  Certainly, catheters and scopes would benefit from this, but so too computer keyboards, surgical tabletops, telephones, door handles, etc. MORE

Image Credit: University College London and ScienceDaily.com