Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)

Researchers at the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics believe they have developed an effective anti-bacterial coating for artificial joints both before and after implantation.  Their material combines titanium dioxide (anti-bacterial in the presence of light) and gold nanoparticles which together generate “localized surface plasmon resonance,” described as quoted: “Surface plasmons are collective oscillations of electrons that occur at the interface between conductors and dielectrics – such as between gold and titanium dioxide. The localized electron oscillations at the nanoscale cause the gold nanoparticles to become excited and pass electrons to the titanium dioxide surface, thus allowing the particles to become electron acceptors.” MORE

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