Writing in the International Journal of Nanoparticles, Rani Pattabi and colleagues at Mangalore University, explain how blasting silver nitrate（硝酸银） solution with an electron beam can generate nanoparticles that are more effective at killing¹ all kinds of bacteria, including gram-negative species that are not harmed by conventional antibacterial agents（抗菌剂） . Your running shoes, socks and even computer keyboard may be impregnated with（充满） silver nanoparticles that can kill some bacteria, keep you smelling sweet and preventing the spread of infection among computer users. Researchers in India point out that silver nanoparticles are not only antibacterial against so-called gram-positive bacteria（革兰氏阳性菌） , such as resistant³ strains of Staphylococcus aureus（金黄色葡萄球菌） and Streptococcus pneumoniae（肺炎链球菌） but, also against gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa（绿脓杆菌） .

Bacterial² resistance to conventional antibiotics⁴ is threatening human health the world over. Medicinal chemists are desperately⁵ trying to develop new compounds that can kill strains such as MRSA (methicillin甲氧西林 , or multiple-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and E. coli O157. Frontline defenses, such as environmentally benign⁶ and cost-effective antibacterial compounds could prevent such infective agents spreading through contact with computer keyboard, phones and other devices.

Silver has been known to have antibacterial properties since ancient times. A modern technological⁷ twist means it has come to the fore⁸（涌现，崭露头角） for a wide range of applications because of the emergence⁹ of resistance to antibacterial gels. As such a new industry involving the production of bacteriostatic agents, including silver nanoparticles, has emerged.

Researchers have been experimenting with radiation to split silver compounds, releasing silver ions that then clump¹⁰ together to form nanoparticles. The incentive¹¹（动机，刺激） lies in the fact that such an approach avoids the need for costly¹² and hazardous¹³（冒险的） reducing agents and can be fine-tuned to produce nanoparticles of a controlled size, which is important for controlling their properties. Pattabi and colleagues have used electron beam technology to irradiate（照耀，启发） silver nitrate solutions in a biocompatible（生物适合的） polymer（聚合物） , polyvinyl（乙烯聚合物的） alcohol, to form their silver nanoparticles.

Preliminary tests show that silver nanoparticles produced by this straightforward¹⁴, non-toxic method are highly active against S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa.