Reducing hospital acquired infections: elucidating the biocidal properties and mechanisms of novel copper containing materials

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Aereus Technologies (Aereus), is an Ontario-based innovative company incorporated in 2009 that is commercializing Aereus Shield. Their patented process produces a durable, attractive coating proven to kill harmful bacteria on contact. In Canada, Aereus Shield is marketed as an antimicrobial for use exclusively on Class I and Class II medical devices. Their coating provides a cost-effective intervention against common hospital pathogens and is an ideal solution for high touch public surface. However, microbial pathogens are not the only microbes of concern. Viruses can survive on surfaces and can lead to the spread of infection in high risk settings such as hospitals. Through this grant, a greater understanding of the mechanisms at play in the interaction between two prototypical viruses and novel material coatings prepared by Aereus. The two prototypical viruses, Influenza and Adenovirus, represent two broad classes of viruses, namely enveloped and nonenveloped viruses, and will serve as the basis to initiate a relationship between Aereus and the Aucoin Lab at the University of Waterloo. Together, Aereus and Aucoin will tackle the problem of nosocomial infections by first deepening an understanding of Aereus materials and then utilizing this understanding to better design novel products. Specifically, Aucoin will be setting up a well-controlled environmental chamber in which factors such as temperature and humidity can be controlled and isolated from the biocidal properties of the Aereus materials. These materials are primarily copper-based and present themselves as coatings on metal substrates, as powders and as polymeric composites. The Aucoin group will focus on the coatings and powder in a first part before extending their findings to the analysis of the polymeric composites. Aucoin's work on the stability and quantification of viruses is properly suited to aid Aereus position itself as a unique producer of biocidal materials. Aereus is in a position to capitalize on the scientific findings given existing commercial agreements for their coatings exhibiting anti-microbial properties.