Fabric Kills Bacteria in Ten Minutes

May-06-14 A new antibacterial fabric able to kill bacteria within ten minutes could have a significant impact on how hospitals control infections.

The team created the fabric by growing silver-TCNQ nanowires on the surface of a cotton textile, which resulted in a 3D interwoven network of the nanowires. Dipping the treated fabric in a silver solution enables the nanowires and causes them to slowly release silver ions, which kills the bacteria within ten minutes of contact. Since the nanowires dissolve slowly, the fabric has a greater longevity than other antibacterial fabrics, and the technique can be incorporated into different fabrics, such as cotton or nylon.

The material could have applications in antibacterial bed linens as well as surgical aprons and bandages.

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[GIZMAG.COM]
[RMIT]

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