Sharkskin technology is not just being researched for its applications in swimwear anymore. Its applications also extend to the microorganisms which lie on the skin beneath the suit. Sharkskin, it turns out, has a unique patterning to it, which discourages growth of bacteria on its surface. This technology is currently being applied in research by a biotech company in Florida, to print the pattern onto an adhesive film, which will ward off bacteria, and is ideal for use in places like schools and hospitals where germs are easily spread. Scientists think that the way that this topography works is that the bacteria come across the surface and make a decision based on energy conservation, such that an uneven surface is not the ideal place to make a colony. Also, because this technology doesn’t kill the bacteria, there is little chance of these microbes developing resistance. With diseases such as H1N1, this could offer an amazing solution and potentially save millions of lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment