Project description
Enhancing hospital safety: nano-enabled coatings against pathogenic bacteria
In healthcare facilities, the presence of microbial pathogens poses potential risks to patients, visitors or professionals. Hence, it is crucial to implement effective strategies to prevent hospital-acquired infections, shielding the hospital environment from potentially harmful microbes. The MSCA-funded NANO-PROTECT project aims to pioneer the development of innovative antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-biofilm nano-enabled coatings for medical textiles, upholstery fabrics and personal protective equipment which are susceptible to pathogen contamination. The project introduces antibiotic-free nanocomposites with broad antimicrobial activities and low propensity for the development of antimicrobial resistance, designed for coatings on hospital textiles. These textiles, produced using advanced nano-enabling coating technologies such as water-borne sonochemistry, will reduce the risk of pathogen contamination and infection transmission.
Objective
The main objective of NANO-PROTECT is to develop innovative antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-biofilm (4A) nano-enabled coatings for medical textiles, upholstery fabrics, and personal protective equipment (PPE) which would be susceptible to pathogens contamination in hospitals. This proposal will focus on designing a pallet of antibiotic-free nanocomposites for coating medical textiles. Novel inorganic nanoparticles with broad antimicrobial activities comprising antibiotic-resistant strains and viruses will be fabricated. The designed nanoparticles will be used for fabricating nano-enabled inorganic/bio-based composites comprising different mechanisms of anti-biofilm and antimicrobial activities. The durability of the antimicrobial function will be monitored by visual indicators. Safer water-based sonochemistry, bio-based metal reduction, self-assembling, enzymatic crosslinking, and a combination thereof would be employed. Moreover, versatile high-precision technologies for nanometric coatings (spray coating, and ink-jet printing) will be tested with a lower quantity of NPs requirements. Further, single-step sonochemical fabrication and coating will be evaluated to make “ready-to-use” products with nano-structured antimicrobial surfaces. Therefore, NANO-PROTECT's nanotechnology-based solutions will provide environmental health safety for patients, visitors, and professionals.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
08034 Barcelona
Spain