I did not yet read the article. But, this stuff is for environmental use only, I presume, not in or on the body....? What does it do to a human cell?
James-Osbourne: Holmes -----Original Message----- From: jrowl...@nctimes.net [mailto:jrowl...@nctimes.net] Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 3:07 PM To: silver-list@eskimo.com Subject: CS>Magnesium oxide biocidal nanoparticles >From Chemweb's backpages: ===================== Jagged Little Pill 13 August 2002 Like tiny chunks of rock, nanoparticles of magnesium oxide can punch their way through the bacterial membranes of Escherichia coli and the anthrax spore protein coat tearing it apart and leaving the pathogenic microbe ripped and torn. Kenneth Klabunde and his colleagues at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, have developed this unique twist on nanotechnology...they describe exactly what happens to bacteria when it comes into contact with these nanoparticles...used three types of microscopy to take a close look at the destruction of bacterium by nanoparticles. The bacteria die within minutes of contact ending up in a misshapen mess with dark patches where the nanoparticles have broken through the bacterial membrane... the nanoparticles have an opposite electrical charge to bacteria and as opposites attract, the bacteria stand little chance of evading the biocide once they are close. The jagged edges of the nanoparticles then allows them to easily penetrate even the tough outer shell of an anthrax spore, much as a fragment of glass might burst a party balloon. The nanoparticles are also basic, so can lyse a bacterial membrane as well as oxidising the membrane...The biocidal nanoparticles would likely be incorporated into air filtration units or sprayed on suspect packages or into affected buildings in powder form. "These nanoparticle powders won't be as messy or as corrosive as other biocides," explains Klabunde...The biocide will be marketed under the name FASTACT by spin-off company NanoScale Materials. A mass production facility is now in the planning stages. http://www.chemweb.com/alchem/articles/1027071585566.html -- The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. Instructions for unsubscribing may be found at: http://silverlist.org To post, address your message to: silver-list@eskimo.com Silver-list archive: http://escribe.com/health/thesilverlist/index.html List maintainer: Mike Devour <mdev...@eskimo.com>
