Novel antimicrobial touch surfaces based on a nanocomposite electrodeposited metal matrix

医院获得性感染(HAI)是一个重大的健康问题，是全球大量死亡和巨额医疗费用的罪魁祸首。据估计，80%的禽流感病毒是通过触摸传播的&尽管改进了清洁程序，但它们的流行率仍然高得令人无法接受。能够主动杀灭微生物的表面和涂层的开发提供了一个重要的机会来帮助维持微生物清洁的环境，特别是对于医护人员、患者和来访者经常接触的接触表面，保持定期的表面消毒是不可能的。众所周知，铜及其合金(黄铜和青铜)具有固有的抗微生物特性，具有抗多种微生物的活性。对重症监护病房HAI发病率的研究表明，在现有感染控制程序的同时，只需将6个关键的不锈钢触摸面更换为抗菌铜，患者感染HAI的风险可以降低58%。然而，不断上涨的铜成本和铸造合金产品的成本限制了NHS的广泛应用。Karm Research Group Ltd.(KRG)寻求开发一种新型的纳米复合电沉积金属基抗菌触摸表面，该表面在抗菌效果、表面特征、美观外观方面优于现有的铸铜医疗保健部分产品，而成本仅为其一小部分。该项目旨在将纳米颗粒纳入抗菌金属基质中，评估技术性能的提高，同时仍保持较高的微生物破坏力。KRG已经认识到对轻质、提高抗菌效果、金属涂层医疗器械、产品和夹具的需求，并相信该项目将在一个全新的产品领域提供世界领先的涂层解决方案，在多个行业拥有全球市场机会。

Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) pose a significant health concern, are responsible for alarge number of deaths & substantial healthcare costs globally. It is estimated that 80% ofHAIs are spread by touch & despite improved cleaning protocols, their prevalence remainsunacceptably high.The development of surfaces & coatings that can actively kill microbes provides a significantopportunity to help maintain a microbially-clean environment, particularly for touch surfaceswhere healthcare workers, patients & visitors are in frequent contact & maintaining regularsurface disinfection is impossible. It is well documented that copper & its alloys (brass &bronze) have intrinsic antimicrobial properties with activity against a broad spectrum ofmicroorganisms. Studies on the incidence of HAIs in intensive care units showed a patient’srisk of acquiring a HAI can be reduced by up to 58% when just 6 key stainless steel touchsurfaces were replaced with antimicrobial copper alongside existing infection controlprocedures. However, the rising cost of copper & the expense of cast alloy products, limitswide uptake throughout the NHS.Karm Research Group Ltd (KRG) seek to develop a novel nanocomposite electrodepositedmetal matrix antimicrobial touch surface that is superior to the existing cast copper healthcaresector products in terms of antimoicrobial efficacy, surface characterisation, aestheticappearance & at a fraction of the cost. The project aims to incorporate nanoparticulates intothe antimicrobial metallic matrix & evaluate the enhancement in technical performance whilststill retaining high microbial destruction. KRG have recognised the need for lightweight,improved antimicrobial efficacy, metal coated medical devices, products & fixtures, andbelieve this project will provide a world leading coating solution in a completely new productarena with global market opportunities within a number of sectors.