Scientists in the UK first developed graphene, a super thin sheet of
carbon, in 2004 and have been trying various commercial outlets—solar
cells, computer chips, sensors, etc.
But two scientists, Chunhai Fan and Qing Huang from the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, recently decided to look at how graphene affects living cells. According to the article in Medical News Today, they made paper out of graphene oxide and tried to grow both bacteria and human cells on it.
Bacteria could not grow on the paper, which at the same time had no harmful effects for the human cells. “Given the superior antibacterial effect of graphene oxide and the fact that it can be mass-produced and easily processed to make freestanding and flexible paper with low-cost, we expect this new carbon nanomaterial may find important environmental and clinical applications," said the article which quotes a report from ACS Nano, a monthly journal.
Obvious applications include bandages and food packaging, where antibacterial properties could prolong shelf life. I always wonder what the next step is after science has identified something like these benefits. Will it be years before commercial applications hit the marketplace, or will we be hearing about graphene oxide paper in the near future?
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But two scientists, Chunhai Fan and Qing Huang from the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, recently decided to look at how graphene affects living cells. According to the article in Medical News Today, they made paper out of graphene oxide and tried to grow both bacteria and human cells on it.
Bacteria could not grow on the paper, which at the same time had no harmful effects for the human cells. “Given the superior antibacterial effect of graphene oxide and the fact that it can be mass-produced and easily processed to make freestanding and flexible paper with low-cost, we expect this new carbon nanomaterial may find important environmental and clinical applications," said the article which quotes a report from ACS Nano, a monthly journal.
Obvious applications include bandages and food packaging, where antibacterial properties could prolong shelf life. I always wonder what the next step is after science has identified something like these benefits. Will it be years before commercial applications hit the marketplace, or will we be hearing about graphene oxide paper in the near future?
Get your daily dose of global packaging news. Follow me on Twitter.
