Abstract
Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) and the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains are major threats to human health. Copper is well known for its high antimicrobial efficacy, including the ability to kill superbugs and the notorious ESKAPE group of pathogens. We sought a material that maintains the antimicrobial efficacy of copper while minimizing the downsides – cost, appearance and metallic properties – that limit application. Here we describe a copper-glass ceramic powder as an additive for antimicrobial surfaces; its mechanism is based on the controlled release of copper (I) ions (Cu1+) from cuprite nanocrystals that form in situ in the water labile phase of the biphasic glass ceramic. Latex paints containing copper-glass ceramic powder exhibit ≥99.9% reduction in S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, K. aerogenes and E. Coli colony counts when evaluated by the US EPA test method for efficacy of copper-alloy surfaces as sanitizer, approaching that of benchmark metallic copper.
Highlights
Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) and the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains are major threats to human health
While good hygiene practices are the bedrock for infection control, emerging evidence suggests that continuously killing antimicrobial surfaces based on metallic copper can reduce bioburden and lower the risk of infection[3]
Paint coatings containing the copper–glass ceramic powder exhibit ≥99.9% reduction in S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, K. aerogenes, and E. coli colony counts using the US EPA test method
Summary
Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) and the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains are major threats to human health. We describe an alkali copper aluminoborophosphosilicate glass ceramic material that acts as a sustainable delivery system for Cu +1 ions with high antimicrobial efficacy. Paint coatings containing the copper–glass ceramic powder exhibit ≥99.9% reduction in S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, K. aerogenes, and E. coli colony counts using the US EPA test method.
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