New polymer kills germs, some viruses

[applegrove]

New polymer kills germs, some viruses
Associated Press

"Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found that a surface coating of a special polymer kills germs by impaling them.

The polymer, called PEI, was used to coat glass slides in tests. It produces a surface covered with tiny fragments, like tentacles, that point upward.

When bacteria land on the surface their cell membrane is punctured, killing them, the researchers said in Tuesday's issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In tests, the surface also disabled two types of influenza virus. Viruses don't have protective membranes, but the types tested do have a fatty coating that they said was also apparently punctured.

....SNIP"

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061113.wvlad1113/BNStory/Science/?cid=al_gam_nletter_newsUp

[mike_c]

1. yeah, but what does it do to animal cells...?

Pop goes the weasel, I suspect. Don't be looking to gargle this anytime soon....

[applegrove]

3. I know. My feelings exactly. Umm is this not like chemistry in the early

to mid 20th Century where innovation was heralded and things like DDT got invented.

[Warpy]

4. I doubt there will be internal applications

but think of using that coating on surfaces. No more picking up viruses from the kids from telephones and door knobs; no more kids in day care swapping every infection known to man. No more passing bugs around on surfaces in offices and hospitals.

Remember, these spikes are microscopic. They won't penetrate the layer of keratin which forms the outer layer of skin.

[w4rma]

6. fine sandpaper doesn't really hurt animal cells. And this 'sandpaper' is even finer. (nt)

[mike_c]

7. anything that will burst a bacterium will puncture an animal cell...

...even easier-- remember, animal cells have naked membranes-- most are not the keratinized epithelium or cuticle of outer integuments.

[w4rma]

8. Good point. (nt)

[applegrove]

9. What if you injest? Let's say heat makes it begin to break down? Then it is on your kid's hands

and in their mouth.

[applegrove]

2. I would want freepers to be interested in science other than stem cells. Cause

nanotechnology is scary at times. Why not a go slow position on nanotechnology? Here with have a polymer that stabs cells to death. Great! Could we look into that a little more if we care so much about cellular life? Where is the bruhaha on nanotechnology. Got to be at least as dangerous as chemicals.

[whirlygigspin]

5. don't mind me, i'm a moran

doesn't air or wood do the same thing? morales?