#820: Deactivating Hospital Superbugs with Crystalline Nano Cellulose

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Hospital acquired infections are on the rise as superbugs become more resistant to antibiotics.

But what if you could deactivate those superbugs by simply turning on the light?

Dr. Belinda Heyne is a photo-chemist at the University of Calgary.

She’s researching the disinfectant qualities of nano crystalline cellulose.

DR. BELINDA HEYNE: It is an amazing material  It is very safe.  Because when you are thinking about it, it is just cellulose.  But it has been cut into very very small pieces to arrive to a nanometer material.  And then because of that nanometer material, you have different properties but the material is still cellulose which  is coming from wood.  So it is something which is very safe.  And that material has already shown that it has antibacterial activities.  So we are just harvesting from those things and from our knowledge of photo chemistry in order to create new methods of cleaning.    So we just activate that nanomaterial with light.  You just turn on the light and that’s it, the material is activated.  

Dr. Heyne says her nano disinfectant is at the prototype stage and she expects it will be ready for use in hospitals within 2 to 3 years.

Thanks today to ALBERTA INNOVATES.

Learn more at InnovationAnthology.com.

I’M CHERYL CROUCHER.

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Alberta Innovates

Alberta Innovates is a provincially funded Corporation with a mandate to deliver 21st century solutions for the most compelling challenges facing Albertans. We do this by building on our province’s research and technology development strengths in the core sectors of health, environment, energy, food and fibre and platforms such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and omics. We are working with our partners to diversify Alberta’s economy, improve our environmental performance and enhance our well-being through research and innovation. 

The Alberta Innovates system has roots stretching back almost 90 years

In March, 2016 the consolidation of Alberta Innovates was announced and on November 1, a single, integrated innovation powerhouse, Alberta Innovates, was formed. Two applied research subsidiaries – Innotech Alberta and C-Fer Technologies –  serve public and private sector interests.

The Alberta Innovates system was first created in January 2010, as part of an overall innovation framework developed within the Alberta Research and Innovation Act. At that time, four corporations were established:

  • Bio Solutions
  • Energy and Environment Solutions
  • Health Solutions
  • Technology Futures.

The Alberta Innovates system has a 90-year legacy. Our expertise is built on the successes of:

  • Alberta Institute for Agriculture
  • Forestry and the Environment
  • Alberta Agricultural Research Institute
  • Alberta Forestry Research Institute
  • Alberta Life Sciences Institute
  • Alberta Ingenuity
  • Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
  • Alberta Research Council
  • iCORE
  • nanoAlberta
  • Alberta Water Research Institute (AWRI)
  • Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI)
  • Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA).

 

Program Date: 2016-11-03