Scientists from Tomsk State University have introduced a unique film that eliminates up to 100% of microbes on the packaging surface. Marat Lerner, the head of the Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Highly Dispersed Materials at the Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, explained that the developed material is as effective as silver but significantly cheaper.
Durable, inexpensive, and convenient polypropylene reduces the shelf life of products and creates risks for consumers. Today, there is no mass production of antimicrobial food packaging in Russia, but scientists from Tomsk have created a unique material.
The secret lies in two-component nanoparticles of zinc oxide and silver. Even under regular store lighting, they transform into microscopic cleaners: generating active oxygen species that destroy bacteria and other microorganisms.
"We started with the base polymer and initially introduced a large amount of nanoparticles. Then, to ensure their uniform distribution throughout the polymer, we diluted this concentrate with an additional volume of polymer, ground it, and obtained granules," explained Valeria Zhzhou, a junior research fellow at the Nanobioengineering Laboratory of Tomsk State University.
These granules serve as the material for future films that can be used both in medicine and the food industry. The film eliminates nearly 100% of harmful microorganisms while remaining completely safe for humans.
"The gold standard for biological action of nanoparticles is silver. However, it is also a toxic metal and an expensive material. We have developed an affordable material that is just as effective as silver," explained Marat Lerner, head of the Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Highly Dispersed Materials at the Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The Tomsk innovation has already caught the attention of major manufacturers. Even a one-day extension of shelf life will lead to a significant reduction in losses. The developed technology is patented and ready for transfer to real production.
Source: VESTI.RU
