DNA, we all know it, right? Yes, in 1953 Watson and Crick proposed the double helical structure of DNA and even bagged a Nobel Prize for that later in 1962. Shortened for Deoxyribonucleic Acid, DNA is a double stranded, helical molecule comprising of two sugar-phosphate spines on the outside, held together by chemical bonds.
What does replication mean?
Well, all organisms reproduce by replication, where two identical sets of DNA are produced from one. It forms the basis for biological inheritance.
Now how does Silver come in all these? Silver nanoparticles release Ag+ ions which interestingly bind to the bases than the backbone, weird right? We do know that Adenine (A) is bound to Thymine (T) with two hydrogen bonds, whereas Guanine (G) and Cytosine (C) with three. High resolution electro-spray ionization mass spectrometry has shown that Silver (I) ions bind with Guanine to form extremely stable metal base pairs which do not break even at 90 degrees Centigrade, when the known G-C pairing melts at 20.
The usual replication process starts with the unwinding of the strands by an enzyme named helicase. This particular enzyme breaks the hydrogen bonding between the respective base pairs, and it stops at Guanine, with no other processes to follow. No replication forks, no primers, no complementary base pairing, nothing. Understanding the hierarchy, DNA does not multiply, cells do not form, and microorganisms cannot reproduce.
So, where does this all lead to? With hydrogen peroxide hammering down the cell walls and silver disabling their reproducing ability? Death!
Chemtex Speciality Limited globally markets Nano Silver Hydrogen Peroxide made from a combination of Hydrogen Peroxide IP and Nano Silver particles, under the registered trade name of Alstasan Silvox.
Comments
Jeet (India)
Very Interesting !!!