Friday, 13 July 2012

Ions, not particles, make silver toxic to bacteria

Ions, not particles, make silver toxic to bacteria: Houston TX (SPX) Jul 13, 2012



Rice University researchers have settled a long-standing controversy over the mechanism by which silver nanoparticles, the most widely used nanomaterial in the world, kill bacteria. Their work comes with a Nietzsche-esque warning: Use enough. If you don't kill them, you make them stronger.

Scientists have long known that silver ions, which flow from nanoparticles when oxidized, are deadly