UMass Startup Develops “Smarter” Paint Additive
A specialty materials company based at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has reportedly created a non-toxic programmable powder to make “smarter” plastics and coatings.
The Xheme Multifunctional Additives (XMAs) can be customized based on application, from uses in blood storage bags to fungus- and fade-resistant paint.
XMAs can reportedly control or eliminate oxidative stress, which cause the breakdown of key cellular structures. They also resist microbial growth and damage from ultraviolet light. and offer antibacterial properties; protect against gamma, and X-ray radiation; and exhibit “excellent” biocompatibility with cells. Additionally, unlike some current additives, XMAs do not contain dangerous carcinogenic endocrine disruptors.