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The new material is unique due to its complex nanoscale structure.
About
Cellulose is a compound found in plants that keeps the cell walls rigid. It is not digestible, but can be used as dietary fiber and in other applications like cloth and paper. Cellulose is also a byproduct of the forestry industry, historically being used for paper. Research is being done worldwide on finding other applications of cellulose that are of value. The new material is unique due to its complex nanoscale structure. For reference, a nanometer is somewhere between a strand of DNA and a single atom. Imagine taking one human hair and splitting it lengthwise into 80,000 pieces. The researchers found a way to assemble the cellulose into nanorods and nanoparticles that are less than 10 nanometers in length. The material also shows promise in hemodialysis applications. During hemodialysis, blood is passed through a filter outside the body like an artificial kidney. Current filters could be improved by allowing better flow-through and less fouling.
Key Benefits
· Click chemistry protocols are one of the best approaches of binding antibacterial small molecules to the surface of cellulose. · Most products can only provide an area with anti-septic properties on application. These products immediately become ineffective when exposed to contaminated environments. · Antimicrobial and antibacterial small molecule attached cellulose surface spray coatings could have a major impact on the ability to spread virus by killing various virus and bacteria which includes E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus. · Cellulose-bound antimicrobial agents are useful in the biomedical field for wound dressing in debridement protocols after traumatic injury, as well as possess the ability to seal and sterilize an area from the environment for prolonged periods of time in high contact locations in public places. · Lastly, these surfaces are also useful as food packaging materials for food preservation and maintaining contamination integrity both at the point of the farmer as well as upon arrival at the point of sale. Materials can include a dye or nontoxic color agent to show the efficacy of the material.
Applications
· These spray-on all-natural surface can be antiviral and antibacterial and could be used to stop the spread of disease in high contact areas. · This spray on coating could be sprayed over the top of packages without damaging them for additional protection. · We also produce the material OTO-CNM Form I and Form II that is utilized in the chemistry of this synthesis and currently have a patent on OTO-CNM Form II and microwave production of the two forms.