Toward Universal Photodynamic Coatings for Infection Control

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Photochemistry
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic and hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) highlight the need for effective infection control materials.
• Existing self-disinfecting materials face challenges in scalable and cost-effective manufacturing.
• Photodynamic antimicrobial (aPDI) materials show promise but require accessible production methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a scalable spray coating for self-disinfecting materials using photodynamic agents.
• To assess the antimicrobial efficacy of the developed coatings against relevant pathogens.
• To demonstrate the potential for broad application of these coatings in healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• A bicomponent spray coating was formulated using a UV-photocrosslinkable polymer (SbQ-PVA) and three photosensitizers (ZnTMPyP4+, MB, RB).
• Coatings were applied to various materials and characterized using SEM, ToF-SIMS, and ICP-OES.
• Antimicrobial efficacy was tested against *Staphylococcus aureus* and human coronavirus (HCoV-229E) after visible light exposure.

Main Results:

• Successful application of SbQ-PVA/PS coatings was confirmed on multiple materials.
• Coated materials demonstrated high inactivation rates: 97-99.999% for *S. aureus* and 92-99.999% for HCoV-229E upon light activation.
• Significant antimicrobial activity persisted even after 4 weeks of exposure to indoor lighting.

Conclusions:

• The developed photodynamic SbQ-PVA/PS coatings offer a scalable and effective method for creating self-disinfecting surfaces.
• These coatings show broad applicability across various materials for reducing pathogen transmission.
• This technology presents a promising strategy for enhancing infection control in healthcare environments.