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The Zurich based team from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, have discovered that coating the plastic film with a mix of silver and calcium phosphate nano-particles proves deadly to bacteria.
Wendelin Stark, leader of the project, explained that it had been previously impossible to apply silver in a targeted and measured way. However, by using a film and applying the silver to the calcium phosphate, he believes the problem has been overcome: "Within 24 hours of the plastic film being applied to a surface, less than 1 bacterium out of 1 million bacteria will survive."
The polymer film only emits silver if bacteria are growing in the vicinity. This can be assessed by the quantity of calcium phosphate that is taken up by the bacterium. "It saves money and is much more efficient," said Stark.
"It also reduces the environmental impact of the process and we have developed a method that is easy to apply and could bring great benefits to patients in hospitals, as well as the food industry."
Silver has been used as an antiseptic and disinfectant for thousands of years. Wealthy households would commonly use silver tableware in the belief it could fend off germs, whilst poorer people would put silver coins into their milk jug.
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