The metal copper is known for being able to kill offbacteria that it comes into contact with, by releasing ion that is toxic to the cells. The process usually takes several hours.
A newly developed copper surface is 120 times faster than normal copper and can do the job in a couple of minutes. The less time thebacteria hang around, the safer the surfaces are.
One of the most common causes of infections picked up in hospitals is golden staphbacteria, and the scientists behind the new copper surface tested it against them.
A standard copper surface will kill 97 percent of golden staph within four hours, says materials engineer Ma Qian from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
When golden staphbacteria were placed on our specially designed copper surface, it destroyed more than 99% of the cells in just 2 minutes. The copper structure has shown itself to be very potent.
The porous nature of the new material makes it more effective at killingbacteria than smooth copper. More of the cells can be attacked when they land.
To make this copper porous, the team created an alloy of copper and manganese atoms, and then used a technique to remove the manganese atoms.
That left behind a maze-like copper surface full of very small holes for thebacteria to get trapped inside, and it makes it harder forbacteria cells to form in the first place.
When water hits the surface of the copper material, it forms a thin film rather than droplets, and no special drugs or treatments are required. That improves the effectiveness of the copper ion.
Smith et al., Biomaterials, 2021.
The golden staphbacteria cells are on the team's micro-nano copper surface.
Jackson Leigh Smith says that the effects of 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611
The combination of effects results in a rapid elimination of thebacteria.
If a handle can be killed in 2 minutes rather than 4 hours, it will be less people who will be touching it. The material could be used in schools, hospitals, homes, and public transport vehicles.
The early signs are promising, as the researchers are investigating how effective this copper surface could be against the virus that causes COVID-19.
The copper could help in the fight against superbugs like golden staph that have developed antibiotic resistance, as alternative approaches to reducing infections and the spread ofbacteria could be crucial in tackling the problem.
With limited new antibiotics coming onto the market, the development of materials resistant tobacteria will likely play an important role in helping address the problem.
The research has been published.
