STTR Phase II: Nanomaterial-based Residual Active Disinfectant for Decreasing Surface Acquired Infections

这个小企业技术转让（STTR）第二阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种基于纳米技术的涂层，以对抗医疗保健获得性感染（HAI）的上升。HAIs在医院通过医护人员的手和暴露的表面传播。通过该项目开发的涂层技术将对被病毒和细菌污染的表面进行消毒。 抗菌涂层在清洁之间对这些表面提供保护。在美国，每25名患者中就有1人因医院就诊而患上可预防的HAI。据估计，医院每年治疗HAI的费用为400亿美元。该技术的商业化将减少可预防的疾病和死亡，同时减少医疗保健系统对每个HAI病例的财政负担。其他将从这项工作中受益的市场包括受诺如病毒（胃流感）影响的企业，如游轮，餐馆，学校，养老院，芯片制造设施和食品加工厂。该项目开发了一种新型的纳米颗粒涂层，以应对HAI的上升。一种新型的纳米粒子具有高输出的活性氧（ROS）和有效的抗菌行为已经开发出来。由于抗菌机制是二次表面反应，因此该技术可以有效地灭活病毒和细菌而不会被消耗。使用实验室批量的纳米颗粒实现了阶段I的演示。第二阶段的研究和开发创造了一个适合于合成新型纳米颗粒的制造工艺，创造了一个货架稳定的配方产品，同时确保纳米颗粒生产和配方的进步不会降低纳米颗粒的抗菌功效。该合成允许在规模上降低纳米颗粒成本。 配制产品的货架稳定性对产品的整体物流和供应链很重要。将评估规模化合成和配方化学的改进对最终产品消毒效果的影响。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is the development of a nanotechnology-based coating to combat the rise in Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs). HAIs spread in hospitals through healthcare workers’ hands and exposed surfaces. The coating technology developed through this project will disinfect surfaces contaminated with viruses and bacteria. The antimicrobial coating provides protection on these surfaces between cleanings. In the United States, 1 in 25 patients get a preventable HAI from hospital visits. HAIs cost hospitals an estimated $40 billion annually to treat. Commercialization of this technology will lead to fewer preventable illnesses and deaths, while decreasing the financial burden on the healthcare system for each HAI case. Other markets that will benefit from this work include businesses impacted by norovirus (stomach flu) such as cruise ships, restaurants, schools, nursing homes, chip manufacturing facilities, and food processing plants. This project develops a novel, nanoparticle-enabled coating to combat the rise in HAIs. A novel nanoparticle with a high output of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and potent antimicrobial behavior has been developed. Because the antimicrobial mechanism is a secondary surface reaction, the technology can effectively deactivate viruses and bacteria without being consumed. Phase I demonstrations were achieved using bench top batches of nanoparticles. Phase II research and development creates a manufacturing process appropriate for the synthesis of the novel nanoparticles, creating a shelf stable formulated product, while ensuring the advances in nanoparticle production and formulation do not degrade the nanoparticle's antimicrobial efficacy. The synthesis allows for a decrease in the nanoparticle cost at scale. Shelf stability of the formulated product is important to the overall logistics and supply chain of the product. Improvements to both the scaled synthesis and formulation chemistry will be evaluated for impacts to the disinfection efficacy of the final product.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.