Ongoing

Triple-A-COAT | safe and bio-based Antimicrobial, Antifungal and Antiviral nanocoating

Region:

Europe

Financed by

Context

Human pathogens can persist on textiles and high-traffic surfaces for hours, days or even longer when protected in biofilms, increasing risk of infection spreading. Conventional cleaning has no lasting effect as contamination can re-occur almost immediately.
Available antimicrobial coatings are based mainly on the release of silver ions and other biocides that present risks for resistance development and environmental damage. Inorganic nanoparticles are also a concern for human health.
Nanocellulose is a versatile nanomaterial obtained from wood pulp or biotechnological methods, which has excellent physical properties for coatings, enabling controllable and standardised application of antimicrobial functionalities.

Objective and results

Triple-A-COAT will develop a bio-based antiviral/antimicrobial coating platform for high traffic surfaces and textiles, applied with spray coating or as a thin film, using nanocellulose augmented with additional activities to meet or exceed antimicrobial/antiviral coatings efficacy of >log 3 reduction, but with a minimal risk of resistance development and avoiding the safety issues of inorganic nanoparticles.
In Triple-A-COAT three forms of nanocellulose will be augmented for antimicrobial/antiviral activity through grafting/adsorption of novel, resistance-proof compounds with excellent activities against bacteria, fungi and/or viruses, and nanopatterning to create bio-inspired antimicrobial surfaces.
Within 5-10 years after the end of the project, the results will be commercialized for impact in the transportation and healthcare sectors, contributing to the better control of infectious disease, and boosting the competitiveness and research leadership of EU industry including SMEs.

Approach

Antimicrobial and/or antiviral activities are based on the following nature-inspired approaches developed to TRL3:

Functionalization of nanocellulose with novel nature-inspired antibiofilm compounds and antimicrobial/antiviral peptides, either by adsorption, or by covalent grafting to the considerable number of protruding hydroxyl groups.
Nature-inspired nanopatterning of nanocellulose to prevent microbial adhesion and growth.

The Triple-A-COAT platform will provide a toolbox of antimicrobial/antiviral activities, formulations and application methods, adaptable to differing applications, pathogen threats and user requirements. All of the main types of nanocellulose, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) produced mainly from wood pulp, and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) produced by biotechnological fermentation, will be explored in the project. Each will contribute specific advantages based on distinctive physical properties, and they may be used individually, or in combination. The nanocoatings will be developed as spray coatings or thin films, for application during manufacture or to existing surfaces as required. All nanocoatings will meet user requirements for durability and be non-toxic after application. The project will proceed from TRL3 and reach TRL6, including a demonstration of the coatings in a bus as a relevant environment, featuring both high traffic surfaces and textiles.

Reference

HORIZON-CL4-2021-RESILIENCE-01, HORIZON EUROPE RIA 101057992

Project partners

The project consortium involves companies, academic and SME partners with leading expertise in novel antimicrobial and antiviral technology, nanocellulose production and functionalisation, coatings development and characterisation, as well as a bus manufacturer and an external User Committee.