Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NOVA (Next Generation BiOactiVe NAnocoatings)
Período documentado: 2022-09-01 hasta 2024-02-29
The rapid transmission of pathogenic microorganisms has catastrophic and long-term consequences. Antibiotic resistance is a growing global concern, with the efficacy of antibiotics constantly diminishing. Any material or device that needs to be handled by many individuals has the potential to act as a fomite. Therefore, surface hygiene is crucial for controlling pathogen spread. The goal of the Next Generation BiOactiVe NAnocoatings (NOVA) project is to address these challenges with next-generation light-activated bioactive coatings. The comprehensive approach is illustrated in Figure: NOVA's goals.
NOVA brings together fourteen partners from nine countries, combining scientific and industrial expertise to develop and market efficient, eco-friendly, and stable antimicrobial coatings.
These coatings target four application areas: public spaces, medical rooms, textiles, and touch screens, each driven by an industrial partner. An schematic overview of the NOVA’s concept is attached (Figure: NOVA will deploy state-of-the-art antimicrobial coatings and demonstrate their relevance in use cases). NOVA will deploy state-of-the-art antimicrobial coatings(NOVA solutions) and demonstrate their relevance in relevant environments (use cases). The project's antimicrobial coatings are based on four pillars: contact-killing biopolymer blends and three light-triggered nanoparticle-based coatings with varying functions. By exploring multiple technologies and their combinations, NOVA provides holistic solutions for specific needs. Microbiologists in the NOVA team are crucial for evaluating antimicrobial surfaces and coatings with robust, reproducible data reflecting real-world effectiveness. Current methods are inadequate, so NOVA will develop new antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral testing methods for operational conditions. Ensuring the safety of antimicrobial coatings for human health and the environment, NOVA prioritizes sustainable design to minimize negative impacts and conserve resources. An academic team customizes toxicity testing methodologies for coatings, ensuring thorough safety. NOVA generates extensive research data across disciplines, managed by experts in software engineering, algorithms, and data science. They will implement FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles and develop in-silico models for faster and more efficient formulation optimization, predictive modeling, and process optimization. By leveraging data-driven insights, NOVA aims to advance coating technology, creating high-performance, sustainable solutions for various industries. An overview of the NOVA workflow, interconnection of work packages (WPs) and positioning within the TRL scale is attached (Figure: NOVA workflow, interconnection of work packages and positioning within the TRL scale).
The NOVA team invites experts, and professionals, as well as citizens interested in learning more about our initiative, to visit https://eu-nova.eu/(se abrirá en una nueva ventana) and follow us on social media: @NOVA-EU (LinkedIn) and @NOVA4Nano (Twitter).
NOVA brings together fourteen partners from nine countries, combining scientific and industrial expertise to develop and market efficient, eco-friendly, and stable antimicrobial coatings.
These coatings target four application areas: public spaces, medical rooms, textiles, and touch screens, each driven by an industrial partner. An schematic overview of the NOVA’s concept is attached (Figure: NOVA will deploy state-of-the-art antimicrobial coatings and demonstrate their relevance in use cases). NOVA will deploy state-of-the-art antimicrobial coatings(NOVA solutions) and demonstrate their relevance in relevant environments (use cases). The project's antimicrobial coatings are based on four pillars: contact-killing biopolymer blends and three light-triggered nanoparticle-based coatings with varying functions. By exploring multiple technologies and their combinations, NOVA provides holistic solutions for specific needs. Microbiologists in the NOVA team are crucial for evaluating antimicrobial surfaces and coatings with robust, reproducible data reflecting real-world effectiveness. Current methods are inadequate, so NOVA will develop new antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral testing methods for operational conditions. Ensuring the safety of antimicrobial coatings for human health and the environment, NOVA prioritizes sustainable design to minimize negative impacts and conserve resources. An academic team customizes toxicity testing methodologies for coatings, ensuring thorough safety. NOVA generates extensive research data across disciplines, managed by experts in software engineering, algorithms, and data science. They will implement FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles and develop in-silico models for faster and more efficient formulation optimization, predictive modeling, and process optimization. By leveraging data-driven insights, NOVA aims to advance coating technology, creating high-performance, sustainable solutions for various industries. An overview of the NOVA workflow, interconnection of work packages (WPs) and positioning within the TRL scale is attached (Figure: NOVA workflow, interconnection of work packages and positioning within the TRL scale).
The NOVA team invites experts, and professionals, as well as citizens interested in learning more about our initiative, to visit https://eu-nova.eu/(se abrirá en una nueva ventana) and follow us on social media: @NOVA-EU (LinkedIn) and @NOVA4Nano (Twitter).
The NOVA project has successfully defined use cases for our antimicrobial coatings, with each use case led by an industry partner to ensure their impact post-research.
AkzoNobel: Public Space – Transport – Airplanes
Evonik: Public Space – Holding Areas – Door Knobs
Siemens: Medical Space – Equipment
Spartha: Medical Space – Textiles (Textile applicator prototype already developed)
Antimicrobial technologies are currently under development and combinations of different technologies are even being investigated.
Recognizing the need for novel methods to assess antimicrobial activity in real-life scenarios, our team of expert microbiologists is actively working on developing these methodologies. An exemplary development is the Aerosol Deposition (SneezeBox) Method, which simulates real-life conditions to provide accurate assessments. Our IT experts are focused on automating experiments and ensuring data adheres to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). One notable example is the automation of macrophages identification, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of our experiments.
Additionally, we are develping a tailored approach to the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles on biocides. This approach addresses the dual aspects of biocides, offering a balanced method for hazard evaluation and supporting decision-making towards better, safer alternatives.
Through these efforts, NOVA is advancing the field of antimicrobial coatings, ensuring their practical application and sustainability in various industries.
AkzoNobel: Public Space – Transport – Airplanes
Evonik: Public Space – Holding Areas – Door Knobs
Siemens: Medical Space – Equipment
Spartha: Medical Space – Textiles (Textile applicator prototype already developed)
Antimicrobial technologies are currently under development and combinations of different technologies are even being investigated.
Recognizing the need for novel methods to assess antimicrobial activity in real-life scenarios, our team of expert microbiologists is actively working on developing these methodologies. An exemplary development is the Aerosol Deposition (SneezeBox) Method, which simulates real-life conditions to provide accurate assessments. Our IT experts are focused on automating experiments and ensuring data adheres to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). One notable example is the automation of macrophages identification, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of our experiments.
Additionally, we are develping a tailored approach to the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles on biocides. This approach addresses the dual aspects of biocides, offering a balanced method for hazard evaluation and supporting decision-making towards better, safer alternatives.
Through these efforts, NOVA is advancing the field of antimicrobial coatings, ensuring their practical application and sustainability in various industries.
The impact potential of NOVA is detailed in Figure: The impact potential of NOVA in detail. Starting with the scientific impact of the development of new coating technologies, NOVA will contribute to the improvement of the citizen health and safer working and living places by contributing to management of infection risks. This will translate into economic value by new coating-based products but also increased economic activity due to less work time loss and activity loss due to pandemics in the future.
NOVA is currently finishing the first 18 months of work and has made significant progress in several key areas: particularly in novel methods for assessing antimicrobial activity, including the Simulated Splash Method, NSI/Touch Transfer Method, and light-activated surfaces applicable to various deposition models. These methods adhere to ISO 22196/27447 standards and include dry deposition, Aerosol Deposition (SneezeBox) Method, Bandages/Textile Soak Method, and Leachate of Antimicrobial Compounds. NOVA is developing a biocidal-specific SSbD Framework to provide a balanced approach beyond the current state of the art. This framework assesses the safety and sustainability of biocidal coatings while considering functionality. By integrating these aspects, we facilitate comparative assessments among different biocidal products, supporting decision-making toward better alternatives.
NOVA is currently finishing the first 18 months of work and has made significant progress in several key areas: particularly in novel methods for assessing antimicrobial activity, including the Simulated Splash Method, NSI/Touch Transfer Method, and light-activated surfaces applicable to various deposition models. These methods adhere to ISO 22196/27447 standards and include dry deposition, Aerosol Deposition (SneezeBox) Method, Bandages/Textile Soak Method, and Leachate of Antimicrobial Compounds. NOVA is developing a biocidal-specific SSbD Framework to provide a balanced approach beyond the current state of the art. This framework assesses the safety and sustainability of biocidal coatings while considering functionality. By integrating these aspects, we facilitate comparative assessments among different biocidal products, supporting decision-making toward better alternatives.