Anionic polymers disinfectant

Chemical engineers at North Carolina State University have created a nanomaterial disinfectant that can kill many germs responsible for hospital acquired infections.  “The way the technology works is by imparting chemical modifications on a polymer known as TESET, which is currently used for water purification, among other uses. The modification creates a sulfonic acid chemical group linked to the surface of the polymer. When microbes interact with the surface, a small amount of water hydrates the sulfonic acid, leading to a very sudden drop in pH, killing the bacteria. The researchers optimized the chemistry, and can tune the potency of the material by changing the number of sulfonic acid groups on the surface.”     MORE

Image Credit:  North Carolina State University