"This is the first time that anything like this has been developed," said Prof Andrew Mills, from the Queen's University Belfast, reported BBC. He ad
“This is the first time that anything like this has been developed,” said Prof Andrew Mills, from the Queen’s University Belfast, reported BBC. He added: “This film could replace many of the disposable plastic films used in the healthcare industry with the added value of being self-sterilising at no real extra cost.” Scientists developed a virus-killing plastic that could make it harder for bugs, including Covid, to spread in hospitals and care homes. The team at the university say their plastic film is cheap and could be fashioned into protective gear such as aprons. It works by reacting with light to release chemicals that break the virus. The study showed it could kill viruses by the million, even in tough species which linger on clothes and surfaces. The research was accelerated as part of the UK’s response to the Covid pandemic, reported BBC.
The Covid virus can survive for up to 72 hours on some surfaces, but that is nothing compared to sturdier species. Norovirus, the winter vomiting bug, can survive outside the body for 2 weeks while waiting for someone to infect. The team investigated self-sterilising materials. The metal copper has been shown to kill microbes on contact, but is not very flexible. So the researchers used thin sheets of plastic that contained nanoparticles of titanium dioxide. These react with ultraviolet light, even the tiny amount released from a fluorescent bulb, to release molecules called reactive oxygen species. These are just itching to get involved in any chemical reaction. They react with the virus’s genetic material. The result is a dead, useless virus. The material was tested in laboratory against four types of virus, including Covid. In laboratory about one million virus particles were placed on the self-sterilising plastic. This is far beyond the amount of virus that would be needed to start an infection. “It goes from one million viruses down to nothing, and we can see an effect in less than one hour and maximum death in two hours,” said Dr Connor Bamford, from the school of medicine at Queen’s, as reported by BBC.
Watch against contagion
In the last 24 hours 62 new cases of contagion and 0 deaths caused by Covid 19 were reported by State and Health Authorities. Contagion is being watched in Guanajuato and cases of contagion reported are over 60 in the last 24 hours, while there were 0 deaths reported. Authorities maintain the color of activities in the GREEN easing restrictions on activities, both leisure and work.
State Health Authorities insist that Guanajuato should maintain health protection.
For more information call:
- 800 004 4800 and
- 800 627 2583
Or visit:
- https://coronavirus.guanajuato.gob.mx/
- reactivemosgto.guanajuato.gob.mx
