Microorganisms are ubiquitous in our environment. A number of them are known pathogens, while others can elicit allergenic responses in human which cause significant health impact. There is increasing evidence that people can get infected via casual contact with surfaces and objects contaminated with infectious droplets. Surface cleaning and protection are therefore important to protect against the spread of infectious diseases through the contact mode. _{2 2}...[ Read more ]

Microorganisms are ubiquitous in our environment. A number of them are known pathogens, while others can elicit allergenic responses in human which cause significant health impact. There is increasing evidence that people can get infected via casual contact with surfaces and objects contaminated with infectious droplets. Surface cleaning and protection are therefore important to protect against the spread of infectious diseases through the contact mode.

This work presents two different germicidal surface coatings that can be applicable for microbial removal or inactivation. Photocatalytic titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was prepared by a simple novel method in paste form and screen-printed on stainless steel plates as film coating while polymer encapsulated chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) coating was synthesized by double emulsion method. Employing the USEPA approved standard test procedures, both surface coatings were effective against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive (B. subtilis, S. aureus and S. epidermidis) and Gram-negative (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) bacteria and possessed sporicidal property. The coatings also showed the repelling ability to bacteria and physically prevent their adhesion onto the surfaces. The germicidal performance shows a dose-dependent pattern either through increasing the loading of antimicrobial agent (TiO₂ or ClO₂) or prolonging the contact time. The coatings also show persistent high germicidal performance for a period up to a month of a single preparation.