Bioactive paper ......

Seen in various newsfeeds today .......... Next time there is a global pandemic, contaminated water caused by flooding, or questionable-looking meat in a supermarket, we may be reaching for a piece of paper. It won't be just any type of paper but a bioactive paper that contains the ingredients to detect and ward off life-threatening bacteria and viruses like E-coli, salmonella and SARS, to name just a few. Researchers are working to develop paper-based products with biologically active chemicals that can protect the public against increasing incidents of food-, water- and air-borne illnesses. (Link to Rootly for article). More detail of the McMaster University work can be found in the Scientific Blogging article. I am sure if I did a more detailed search, I could prior work in this field .......... there are already MRSA wipes and potential developments of paper tissue products containing microbicides ....... wipe away the germs! Certainly an opportunity for suppliers of biologically active substances as long as the products are safe, non-sensitising etc. The competition for the bioactive papermakers will come from other substrates such as nonwovens, films, plastics ......