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Updated: Sep 21, 2025

High-throughput Identification of Bacteria Repellent Polymers for Medical Devices
Published on: November 5, 2016
Shielding Surfaces from Viruses and Bacteria with a Multiscale Coating
Deepu Ashok1,2, Mahdiar Taheri3, Puneet Garg1,2
1Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Research School of Chemistry and the John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, Australia.
Abstract:
The spread of viral and bacterial pathogens mediated by contact with surfaces is a leading cause of infection worldwide. COVID-19 and the continuous rise of deaths associated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria highlight the need to impede surface-mediated transmission. A sprayable coating with an intrinsic ability to resist the uptake of bacteria and viruses from surfaces and droplets, such as those generated by sneezing or coughing, is reported. The coating also provides an effective microbicidal functionality against bacteria, providing a dual barrier against pathogen uptake and transmission. This antimicrobial functionality is fully preserved following scratching and other induced damage to its surface or 9 days of submersion in a highly concentrated suspension of bacteria. The coatings also register an 11-fold decrease in viral contamination compared to the noncoated surfaces.
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