Australian researchers have developed a high-tech fabric that can fight off bacteria.
The antibacterial fabric can kill a range of infectious bacteria, such as E coli, within minutes.
The "smart textile" could help reduce the risk of lethal infections spreading in hospitals of the future.
RMIT University's Associate Professor Vipul Bansal has been working on the project for the past year, along with scientists from the CSIRO.
In developing the new fabric, they found organic materials with semi-conductor properties can battle bacteria more effectively than metal salts of silver, already known as an infection-fighting material.
"There is potential for special bedding, linens and surgical aprons on which bugs and bacteria do not grow, so we can maintain an infection-free environment in our healthcare settings," Associate Professor Bansal said.
The NanoBiotechnology Research Laboratory is also working with different types of nanoparticle to test their capacity to destroy bacteria.
"The Holy Grail is to engineer the nanoparticles so they become highly active against infectious bacteria, but they do not kill human cells," Associate Professor Bansal said.
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