Could "killer paper" reduce food spoilage?
In the latest issue of the American Chemistry Society's journal Langmuir, Bar-Ilan University researcher, Aharon Gedanken and colleagues report successful lab tests of a material intended for use as a new food packaging material. The paper contains a coating of silver nanoparticles, which are known for their anti-bacterial properties - and could help preserve foods by fighting the common bacteria responsible for spoilage. Paper coated with silver nanoparticles could provide an alternative to common food preservation methods such as radiation, heat treatment, and low temperature storage, they note.
Silver already finds wide use as a bacterial combatant in medicinal ointments, bathroom and kitchen surfaces and even odor-resistant clothing items. Recently, scientists have been exploring the use of silver nanoparticles as germ fighting coatings for plastics, fabrics and metals - due to their longer-lasting effect when compared to larger silver particles.
The scientists describe development of an effective, long-lasting method for depositing silver nanoparticles on the surface of paper that involves ultrasound, or the use of high frequency sound waves. The coated "killer paper" showed potent antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus, two causes of bacterial food poisoning, killing all of the bacteria in just three hours. This suggests its potential application as a food packaging material for promoting longer shelf life, they note.
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