Science & Technology - Posted by Mike Williams-Rice on
Wednesday, July 11, 2012 14:58 - 5 Comments With ion release,
nano silver zaps bacteria RICE (US) — Scientists have settled a
long-standing controversy about how silver nanoparticles kill
bacteria and—in the wrong amounts—sometimes make them stronger.
Scientists have long known that silver ions, which flow from
nanoparticles when oxidized, are deadly to bacteria. Silver
nanoparticles are used just about everywhere, including in
cosmetics, socks, food containers, detergents, sprays, and a
wide range of other products to stop the spread of germs.
Straight from the Source But scientists have also suspected
silver nanoparticles themselves may be toxic to bacteria,
particularly the smallest of them at about 3 nanometers. Not so,
according to the Rice University team that reports its results
this month in the American Chemical Society journal Nano
Letters. In fact, when the possibility of ionization is taken
away from silver, the nanoparticles are practically b