Anti-Bacterial Fabric Which Can Destroy Disease Causing Pathogens

Scientists Invent Anti-Bacterial Fabric Which Can Destroy Disease Causing Pathogens

An anti-bacterial fabric has been developed by scientists in Australia. This amazing fabric has the capacity to destroy infectious and lethal pathogens such as E.Coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Both of these bacteria have been found to die within 10 minutes of coming into contact with this new fabric. This particular fabric utilises the anti-bacterial properties of silver.
The fabric was invented by Australian university RMIT based in Melbourne, Victoria. The university collaborated with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization and a paper on this material was also presented in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

It has been known for the past 100 years that silver has anti-bacterial properties. Silver has even been associated with purity in mythological tales and urban legends. Scientifically speaking as well, silver has several anti-bacterial properties. The School of Applied Sciences at the RMIT is involved in this research.
Silver metal which has come into contact with body fluids works by releasing silver ions. These ions are toxic. They have the power to destroy microbes and bacteria. Rather than silver metal, the scientists at RMIT used material called silver TCNQ (Tetracyanoquinodimethane).

This new material is suited to use as a form of fabric coating. It has the potency to survive multiple washes. A simple immersion process can create up to one metre of the fabric. Researchers have used the whole T-shirt for the process. They dipped the T-shirt in the solution to make it an efficient process. However, researchers have yet to explore if the material has any negative effects on humans.

The possible applications of this exciting discovery can be band-aids and wound dressings. Surgical gowns and bed sheets will also be some of the other possible uses of this fabric. It can be used in hospitals and healthcare clinics all over the world with great success.

Staphylococcus can lead to a wide variety of diseases in human beings and animals. With news that many diseases are becoming antibiotic-resistant, such inventions have tremendous scope of application. New discoveries such as these can make a huge difference to the wellbeing of people across the planet. Staphylococcal toxins are a common source of food related diseases. Strong strains of E.Coli can lead to gastroenteritis and neonatal meningitis. Melbourne researchers have discovered that this fabric can kill these two deadly disease causing pathogens.

Ordinary fabric is dipped into the special solution to provide desired anti-bacterial properties. This can work wonders for inducing resistance to many diseases caused by this harmful bacteria. Bacteria have the capacity to invade and destroy human lives. The WHO has just identified 7 strains of bacteria that can now resist medication. Diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis are becoming resistant to medication now.

Global warming is inducing irrevocable climate change. This is changing weather conditions and possibly influencing the development of drug resistance of many diseases. With changing times, scientists can only hope to match pace with the cycle that becomes stronger due to man’s apathy.
If we lose faith in science, then our chances of surviving the crises ahead diminishes considerably. With the trend towards renewable energy sources gathering momentum and new innovations in the field of medicine and health, hope is always there.

Scientists need to be supported in their efforts to find solutions to the problems. While some may argue that the solutions create more problems in turn, that is a very limited view of the world. Problems are meant to be overcome and science has the technology to do just that. If man had not striven to change the world for the better always, Niel Armstong would not have taken mankind’s historic step on the moon. The potential is there. Science can channelize this to find new cures and inventions that can improve the lot of mankind.