Project description
Smart microfilms for surface disinfection
The transmission of pathogens from contaminated surfaces to humans can lead to infections. Keeping surfaces clean is labour-intensive, costly, and often involves the use of harmful chemicals. The EU-funded SafeTouch project aims to develop the iSafeTouch (iST) microfilm, which kills pathogens on contact through heat shock. Characterised by low manufacturing costs, minimal maintenance, and an eco-friendly design, this technology integrates heaters and touch sensors onto flexible substrates using a scalable microfabrication process. The project will micro-fabricate iST microfilms and demonstrate their effectiveness against various pathogens. It will also create prototypes incorporating these microfilms, along with a mobile app for remote monitoring, and test them in a hospital and a senior care facility. Ultimately, the project offers a smart, sustainable disinfection solution.
Objective
The transmission of pathogens from contaminated surfaces to humans is a major threat for the public health as it is associated with
Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs) and Community Acquired Infections (CAIs). Maintaining surfaces clean from pathogens is an
undisputable requirement but, at the same time, a laborious, manual, costly process that requires use of harmful chemicals. We
propose the development of a novel microfilm, the iSafeTouch (iST) microfilm, that provides a heat shock to
the pathogens on its surface, killing them instantly. Core element of the iST technology is the successful integration of heaters and touch sensors on flexible substrates. The proposed novel integration scheme, based on a scalable microfabrication process, is critical for achieving high performance and robust operation. We will microfabricate the iST microfilms and demonstrate that they are efficient in killing different pathogens in vitro and they are safe to use. Subsequently, we will develop two Proofs of Concept: a smart, wireless, door handle and a smart, wireless, light switch that integrate the iST microfilms. A mobile application will be developed for monitoring multiple iST units remotely. We will install the iST Proofs of Concept in a hospital and in a senior care facility and verify their antimicrobial activity at real-world conditions. Those two pilot studies will provide information about the acceptability of the technology by the end-users and will confirm that iST microfilm technology does not interference with current practices. The potentially low manufacturing cost, the minimum maintenance requirement by the user and the eco-friendlness of the iST microfilms, makes iST technology an ideal solution for use in any high touch, prone-to-contamination surface.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDEROPEN-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
157 72 ATHINA
Greece
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.