Feb 26, 2008 — See United Press International
As concerns about drug-resistant bacteria increase, U.S. scientists are developing a way to fight bacteria without the use of drugs. UNC chemist Mark Schoenfisch and colleagues have created nanoscale scaffolds made of silica and nitric oxide -- a molecule in mammals that plays a role in regulating blood pressure, neurotransmission and fighting bacterial infections, among other functions. "With silica scaffolds, nitric oxide stores easily and we could very carefully control the release," said Schoenfisch. (The story was also covered by Innovations Report in Germany.)
