Project description
Sustainable antimicrobial nanocoatings for high-touch surfaces
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for sustainable solutions to mitigate the spread of harmful pathogens on ‘high-traffic’ surfaces. Nanoparticle-filled coatings are promising candidates for developing antimicrobial surfaces. However, technical challenges have limited their industrial application. In this context, the EU-funded SUPREME project will develop efficient and multifunctional antimicrobial nanocoatings using bespoke TiO2 nanoparticles. Two sustainable routes will be pursued, incorporating advanced functional nanoparticles and hybrid fibre-nanoparticles using bio-based cellulose materials. Antimicrobial testing will ensure effectiveness against a range of pathogens. The project will follow a sustainable-by-design approach and prioritise safety for human health and environmental impact. It will scale up production and validation according to industrial requirements.
Objective
The catastrophic ongoing pandemic has attracted our attention towards the spread of harmful pathogens facilitated by high traffic surfaces, highlighting the importance and urgency of an economically and environmentally sustainable solution for antimicrobial surface as a potential strategy to mitigate the spread of disease outbreaks.
Nanoparticle (NP) filled coatings, with recognised effectiveness against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, are valuable candidates for developing antimicrobial surface and minimising the surface adhesion of pathogens. However, due to the many technical challenges, including difficulty to develop nanocoatings with a long-term antimicrobial capability, durability under real conditions and safety assurance, their application at industrial level is still limited.
The SUPREME consortium will develop a platform of efficient and multifunctional antimicrobial nanocoatings, building upon bespoke TiO2 nanoparticles that have demonstrated an exceptional antimicrobial ability at lab scale (TRL3). Two sustainable routes: 1) customised core/shell and advanced functional nanoparticles and 2) hybrid fibre-nanoparticles (using sustainable bio-based cellulose materials and nanoparticles) will be pursued. Bearing in mind the specific requirements of individual applications, the SUPREME consortium will coordinate the antimicrobial testings to its effectiveness against a wide range of pathogens. The production of the SUPREME coating will follow a sustainable-by-design approach that considers both toxicity and environmental impact from outset to guarantee both market acceptance and sustainability of the overall process whilst having a robust safety assurance in place for human health. The scaling-up production of these sustainable materials and their validation according to the industrial requirements will enable to reach the TRL6 by the end of the project.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirology
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthepidemiologypandemics
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologymycology
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materials
Keywords
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
3000 Leuven
Belgium
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Participants (14)
70008 IRAKLEIO
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157 80 ATHINA
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10561 Athina
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7491 Trondheim
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10043 Orbassano
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59100 Prato
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1069-211 LISBOA
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
00189 Roma
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
20009 DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIAN (GIPUZKOA)
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6708 PB Wageningen
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121 33 PERISTERI
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3721 MA Bilthoven
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570 03 AGIOS ATHANASIOS
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59100 Prato
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Partners (4)
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
SL2 5DS Slough
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
TS90 8JF Middlesbrough
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
PL24 2SQ Par Cornwall
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
B15 2TT Birmingham
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