Transparent Anti-SARS-CoV‑2 and Antibacterial Silver Oxide Coatings

• Published in: ACS applied materials & interfaces 2022-02, Vol.14 (7), p.8718-8727
• Main Authors: Hosseini, Mohsen, Chin, Alex W. H, Williams, Myra D, Behzadinasab, Saeed, Falkinham, Joseph O, Poon, Leo L. M, Ducker, William A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonia - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Bacterial Infections - prevention & control; Biological and Medical Applications of Materials and Interfaces; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 - virology; Glass - chemistry; Humans; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - pathogenicity; Oxides - chemistry; Oxides - pharmacology; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - pathogenicity; SARS-CoV-2 - drug effects; SARS-CoV-2 - pathogenicity; Silicates - chemistry; Silver Compounds - chemistry; Silver Compounds - pharmacology; Water - chemistry
• ISSN: 1944-8244; 1944-8252
• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c20872

Transparent antimicrobial coatings can maintain the aesthetic appeal of surfaces and the functionality of a touch-screen while adding the benefit of reducing disease transmission. We fabricated an antimicrobial coating of silver oxide particles in a silicate matrix on glass. The matrix was grown by a modified Stöber sol–gel process with vapor-phase water and ammonia. A coating on glass with 2.4 mg of Ag2O per mm2 caused a reduction of 99.3% of SARS-CoV-2 and >99.5% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus compared to the uncoated glass after 1 h. We envisage that screen protectors with transparent antimicrobial coatings will find particular application to communal touch-screens, such as in supermarkets and other check-out or check-in facilities where a number of individuals utilize the same touch-screen in a short interval.