Bacteria is a huge problem for hospitals. Colonies of bacteria accumulated on medical instruments that could cause fatal infections in already weakened patients.
Researchers at the University of Aston (Birmingham, UK) has developed a new antimicrobial material according to the technology that was used in the Middle ages in the manufacture of stained glass. The material is a glass, which is composed of metals that emit ions at a constant speed. It was found that various bioactive glass mixture not only kills bacteria, but also promote bone tissue regeneration of patients.
Scientists have developed a glass doped with cobalt, which undergoes heat treatment in a furnace at temperatures over 1000 °C at a medieval technology. After that, the glass is rapidly cooled and, very importantly, not kristallizuetsya. The final stage is grinding glass into a fine powder.
Obtained from a powder of bioactive glass for six hours completely destroys the population of E. coli and during the day – pathogenic fungus Candida alibicans.
According to scientists, the unique design can be used to prevent infections in operating directly or as embedded in the catheter cartridge for preventing the spread of bacteria in the urinary tract.
Source — Aston University