This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to develop novel polymer coatings that bind hydrogen peroxide (HP), even after the surface has dried, thus maintaining sanitized surfaces and preventing microbial growth and the spread of disease. This allows the surface to maintain long-lasting antimicrobial effects between cleanings. It is expected that these coated surfaces will kill 99.999% of microbes that contact the surface. HP is currently receiving renewed attention as a safe, environmentally-friendly, and cost-effective antimicrobial, as evidenced by the recent introduction of several commercially-available cleaning products based on HP. Healthcare facilities are known to be breeding grounds for a variety of infectious diseases. The pathogens that cause these diseases can reside in many places in the hospital environment ? not just in devices and equipment used in medical procedures, but also from common surfaces such as bed rails, bathroom fixtures, hand rails, and computer keyboards. Microbes living on these contaminated surfaces, which are touched by multiple people, lead to increased spread of healthcare associated infections (HAIs). It is estimated that 1 in 20 hospital patients will be infected with an HAI as a direct result of the care they receive in the hospital.
The broader impact/commercial potential of this project go beyond the medical and hospital applications for which the coatings will be developed and the potential for use in other areas are enormous, with broad utility in the consumer, industrial, and institutional markets. Multiple people touching everyday objects spread infection and disease. One dirty hand can infect numerous surfaces. Rubbing one?s eye or eating a sandwich can become a vector for infection. Even surfaces that are cleaned and sanitized frequently can quickly become recontaminated after the applied disinfectant has evaporated. Examples of places where such coatings would have great impact on public health include bathroom fixtures in public restrooms; kitchen equipment and tables in restaurants, schools and other institutions; home appliances; and seats, armrests, railings, and tray tables for airlines, cruise ships, and other public transportation. Such coatings could be easily implemented into existing manufacturing processes, retrofitted to existing equipment, or even sold as paints for DIY use. The commercial potential for these coatings is huge, especially in consideration of the potential savings to the healthcare industry. A 20% percent reduction in HAI?s translates into an annual savings of $7.2 million, demonstrating that money spent on preventative steps translates into meaningful savings.
Healthcare facilities are known to be a breeding ground for a variety of infectious diseases. The pathogens that cause these diseases can reside in many places in the hospital environment – not just in devices and equipment used in medical procedures, but also from common surfaces such as floors, telephones, bed rails, bathroom fixtures, hand rails, and computer keyboards. Microbes living on these contaminated surfaces are touched by multiple people leading to increased spread of hospital acquired infections (HAIs), and it has been estimated that 1 in 20 hospital patients will be infected with an HAI as a direct result of the care they receive at hospital. Multiple people touching everyday objects can spread infection and disease. One dirty hand can infect multiple surfaces. Rubbing one’s eye or eating a sandwich then becomes a vector for infection. Even surfaces that are cleaned and sanitized frequently can quickly become recontaminated after the applied disinfectant has evaporated. Hydrogen peroxide (HP) is currently receiving renewed attention as a safe, environmentally-friendly, and cost-effective antimicrobial, as evidenced by the recent introduction of several commercially-available cleaning products based on HP (from Lysol and Clorox, for instance). Quick-Med Technologies (QMT), located in Gainesville, Florida (see www.QuickMedTech.com) has developed novel polymer coatings which can sequester HP into a coated surface, keeping it there in a stabilized active form even after the applied HP-based cleaning product has long since dried or evaporated. This allows the surface to maintain long-lasting antimicrobial effects between cleanings. Results of this research show that these coated surfaces can kill microbes which contact the activated surfacse, and the efficacy can be "recharged" simply by cleaning with a commercially-available HP-based cleaning product. Various coating formulations were tested; however, the main focus was on water-borne (WB) coatings. Significant antimicrobial activity after exposure of coatings to commercially-available HP products was demonstrated using realistic (i.e.5 minute) exposure times. Durable antimicrobial activity imparted to the coatings by exposure to HP solution has been demonstrated to last for at least several weeks. The antimicrobial activity is highly effective, with >99.9999% reduction against six different bacterial species tested - including E. coli and MRSA. Efficacy against fungal and viral organisms is also expected. Optically clear coatings have been formulated using a nano-particulate form of ZnO. QMT has received commercial interest from coating manufacturers and industrial end-users, as well as from manufacturers of HP-based cleaning products. A PCT (international) patent application has been filed on for the coatings and methods used. Although the coatings were developed with medical and hospital applications in mind, the potential for use in other areas are enormous, with broad utility in the consumer, industrial, and institutional markets. Examples of places where such coatings would have great impact on public health include bathroom fixtures in public restrooms; kitchen equipment and tables in restaurants, schools and other institutions; home appliances; or seats, armrests, railings, and tray tables for airlines, cruise ships, and other public transportation. Such coatings could be easily implemented into existing manufacturing processes, retrofitted to existing equipment, or even sold as paints for DIY use. Widespread use of safe, "green" HP technology will also help to overcome the public’s perception of antimicrobials as "toxic chemicals". The "self-sterilizing" surfaces resulting from the currently proposed research are broadly applicable in a wide range of places and applications, and widespread use would contribute significantly to the reduction of contaminated surfaces. The spread of disease and infection could be significantly reduced, leading to better health for all segments of the population, as well as a significant reduction in healthcare costs.
