The role of contaminated surfaces in transmission of microbial infections has attracted considerable attention during the current global threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Microbial attachment and subsequent colonization onto surfaces leads to the spread of deadly community-acquired and hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections. In the present study, we have developed one-step curable, covalent coatings based on two organo and water soluble small molecules which can cross link on surfaces upon UV irradiation. The ease of the coating technique eliminates the requirement of trained professionals for fabrication of coating. A wide range of surfaces, such as cloth, glass, paper, plastics, rubber, etc., which are relevant in community and healthcare settings were coated with these molecules. Upon contact, the coating completely killed bacteria and fungi in-vitro including clinically isolated drug resistant pathogens methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant S. aureus (VRSA) and fluconazole resistant C. albicans spp resulting in ~4 log reduction in the microbial burden. The coated surfaces also killed stationary phase cells of MRSA which require very high doses to be eradicated by conventional antibiotics. Remarkably, when checked against influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses, the coating showed complete killing of viral cells, thus ensuring efficient prevention of microbe transmission within 15-30 minutes of exposure. To the best of our knowledge, this is first report of an antimicrobial coating which could kill different classes of pathogenic microbes, such as drug-resistant bacteria, fungi, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 virus. Taken together, the antimicrobial coating reported herein holds great promise to be developed for further application in healthcare settings.

One-step curable, covalently immobilized coating that can kill bacteria, fungi, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.