Novel antimicrobial touch surfaces based on a nanocomposite electrodeposited metal matrix

医院获得性感染（HAI）是一个严重的健康问题，在全球范围内造成大量死亡和大量医疗费用。据估计，80%的HAI是通过触摸传播的，尽管清洁方案有所改进，但其流行率仍然高得令人无法接受。能够主动杀死微生物的表面和涂层的开发为帮助保持微生物清洁环境提供了重要的便利，特别是对于医疗工作者、患者和访客频繁接触的触摸表面，保持定期的表面消毒是不可能的。据文献记载，铜及其合金（黄铜和青铜）具有固有的抗菌性能，对广谱微生物具有活性。对重症监护病房HAI发生率的研究表明，当仅用抗菌铜替代6个关键不锈钢接触表面以及现有的感染控制程序时，患者获得HAI的风险可降低高达58%。然而，铜的成本上升和铸造合金产品的费用，限制了整个NHS的广泛采用。Karm Research Group Ltd（KRG）寻求开发一种新型纳米复合电沉积金属基质抗菌触摸表面，该表面在抗菌功效，表面特性，美学外观方面上级现有的铸铜健康护理产品，成本仅为一小部分。该项目旨在将纳米颗粒纳入抗微生物金属基质中，并评估技术性能的增强，同时仍然保持高的微生物破坏力。KRG已经认识到对轻量化、提高抗菌功效、金属涂层医疗器械、产品和固定装置的需求，并相信该项目将在一个全新的产品中提供世界领先的涂层解决方案，并在多个领域提供全球市场机会。

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.