A big Scientific Breakthrough - Self-sterilising plastic kills viruses like Covid

Hi

Hi

Science moves on, in the battle against viruses.

1 Like

Studies had shown the Covid virus was able to survive for up to 72 hours on some surfaces, but that is nothing compared to sturdier species. Norovirus - known as the winter vomiting bug - can survive outside the body for two weeks while waiting for somebody new to infect.

The team of chemists and virologists investigated self-sterilising materials that reduce the risk of contaminated surfaces spreading infections.

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 proteins it uses to invade our body and the fatty sphere that holds it all together. The end result is a dead and useless virus.

Fascinating … :open_mouth:

1 Like