Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 13, 2025

High-throughput Identification of Bacteria Repellent Polymers for Medical Devices
10:43

High-throughput Identification of Bacteria Repellent Polymers for Medical Devices

Published on: November 5, 2016

9.2K

Transparent and Sprayable Surface Coatings that Kill Drug-Resistant Bacteria Within Minutes and Inactivate SARS-CoV-2

Saeed Behzadinasab1, Myra D Williams2, Mohsen Hosseini1

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering and Center for Soft Matter and Biological Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|November 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Transparent antimicrobial coatings using polydopamine (PDA) with copper (Cu) or copper oxide (Cu2O) rapidly inactivate microbes. These coatings are effective against bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and MRSA, and viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Antimicrobial coatings are crucial for preventing disease transmission.
  • Transparent coatings are needed for surfaces like phone screens.
  • Polydopamine (PDA) offers a sprayable, room-temperature polymerizing adhesive for coating applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate transparent antimicrobial coatings based on polydopamine.
  • To investigate two distinct coating methods: PDA/Cu and PDA/Cu2O.
  • To assess the antimicrobial efficacy of these coatings against specific bacteria and viruses.

Main Methods:

  • Two transparent antimicrobial coatings were fabricated: PDA/Cu (sequential deposition) and PDA/Cu2O (single-step deposition).
  • The PDA/Cu coating involved electroless deposition of copper onto a PDA base.
  • The PDA/Cu2O coating utilized PDA to bind copper(I) oxide particles in a single step.

Main Results:

  • Both PDA/Cu and PDA/Cu2O coatings demonstrated high transparency and rapid antimicrobial activity.
  • PDA/Cu inactivated >99.99% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 99.18% of MRSA in 10 minutes, and 99.98% of SARS-CoV-2 in 1 hour.
  • PDA/Cu2O inactivated 99.94% of P. aeruginosa and 96.82% of MRSA in 10 minutes, and 99.88% of SARS-CoV-2 in 1 hour.

Conclusions:

  • Transparent polydopamine-based coatings incorporating copper or copper oxide exhibit potent and rapid antimicrobial properties.
  • These coatings offer a promising solution for reducing microbial contamination on various surfaces, including high-touch electronic devices.
  • The developed coatings effectively inactivate clinically relevant bacteria and viruses, highlighting their potential in public health applications.
Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2 virusantibacterialantimicrobialcoatingdrug-resistant bacteriatransparent

More Related Videos

Determining Viral Disinfection Efficacy of Hot Water Laundering06:57

Determining Viral Disinfection Efficacy of Hot Water Laundering

Published on: June 21, 2022

2.7K
Biofilm Removal Using Carbon Dioxide Aerosols without Nitrogen Purge07:11

Biofilm Removal Using Carbon Dioxide Aerosols without Nitrogen Purge

Published on: November 6, 2016

6.6K

Related Concept Videos

Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Radiation and Filtration01:26

Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Radiation and Filtration

Radiation and filtration are essential tools for microbial control, targeting microorganisms through distinct mechanisms. Radiation eliminates microbes by damaging their DNA, either killing them or inhibiting their growth. Based on wavelength, radiation is classified into two types: nonionizing and ionizing radiation.Non-ionizing radiation, such as UV radiation (200–400 nm), is absorbed by DNA, causing defects that effectively disinfect surfaces, air, and water, including safety cabinets.
518
Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
1.7K
Chemical Agents for Microbial Control01:27

Chemical Agents for Microbial Control

Chemicals play important roles in controlling microbial growth by targeting microbial structures and functions as sanitizers, antiseptics, disinfectants, and sterilants.Alcohols are commonly used sanitizers, effectively disrupting lipid membranes, which compromises cell integrity. They are also used as antiseptics and disinfectants due to their rapid action and versatility.Phenols and their derivatives phenolics , known for denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes, are particularly...
366
Antimicrobial Effectiveness01:28

Antimicrobial Effectiveness

The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
394
Biological Methods for Microbial Control01:28

Biological Methods for Microbial Control

Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...
383
Hand hygiene01:23

Hand hygiene

Asepsis is the practice of preventing or breaking the chain of infection. The nurse employs aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of microorganisms and reduce the risk of diseases. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of aseptic techniques and is classified into medical and surgical asepsis. Medical asepsis includes hand hygiene and the use of gloves. Surgical asepsis, or the sterile technique, refers to practices that render and keep objects and areas free of microorganisms.
Hand washing...
4.5K