Russian chemists, biologists and medics from Novosibirsk showed that nanoparticles of titanium dioxide can destroy influenza virus.
      
      One of the main tasks of public health services is search for new effective drugs, which are harmless for human beings and environment. Titanium dioxide is one of such chemicals – its suspension is known to kill bacteria and viruses, but visible or ultraviolet light is a necessary condition.
      
      Microscope observations showed that after treating with suspension of TiO₂ and exposure to visible or UV light, viral particles started decomposing in 15 minutes. Almost total decomposition was detected after 1-5 hours, however some intact viral particles were observed during whole incubation period. However, no one knew how titanium dioxide nanoparticles affected microorganisms.
      
      Scientists from URL=http://www.russia-ic.com/regions/4216/4217]Novosibirsk[/URL] synthesized 4-5 nm nanoparticles of titanium dioxide and tried them on H3N2 virus, an ordinary flu strain. Nanoparticles of TiO₂ didn’t require any light exposure for destroying the virus. Researchers explain this effect with possible decomposition of cell membrane of a viral particle. This fact should be kept in mind when creating new drugs, based upon titanium dioxide nanoparticles
      
      Source: Science News