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Nano-based antimicrobial paint is created

NEW YORK, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. chemists have developed a low-cost, environmentally friendly nanotechnology for producing antimicrobial, vegetable oil-based paints.

The technique created by researchers at the City College of New York and Rice University embeds antimicrobial silver nanoparticles into the paints. Although silver's antibacterial, non-toxic properties have been known for centuries, coatings containing antimicrobial agents have failed commercially due to their high cost of production.

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"We extensively worked on polyunsaturated hydrocarbon chains containing polymers/oils to devise a novel approach to nanoparticle formation," said Professor George John of CCNY, the lead author of the study.

Study co-author Professor Pulickel Ajayan of Rice University said the simplicity of the process and economics should allow the commercialization of the new paints as a versatile coating material for health and environmental applications.

"Using the same approach we should be able to produce a large variety of nanoparticle dispersions useful in applications ranging from healthcare to catalysis," added co-investigator Ashavani Kumar, a postdoctoral research associate at Rice.

The scientists said the nanoparticle-embedded coating can be applied as are traditional paints to such surfaces as metal, wood, polymers, glass and ceramics.

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The research is to appear in the March issue of the journal Nature Materials.

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