Nanomaterials + Polymers + Light = Antimicrobial Coatings

In its short history, nanotechnology has come so far that today, nanomaterial researchers are creating solutions which could solve the public health crisis of antibiotic resistance.

Often called the silent pandemic of our time. Each year, hospitals, care homes, and public spaces struggle with pathogens that are increasingly resistant to conventional drugs and disinfectants. Viruses are also a recurring threat to public health as waves of seasonal flu kill tens of thousands, with each one threatening to become a global pandemic.

In both cases, contaminated surfaces play a critical role in spreading infections. This has created a significant business opportunity, where consumers and manufacturers are looking for new antimicrobial materials that are more effective, safer, and easier to integrate into products.

But while traditional cleaning and sterilisation methods remain costly, labour-intensive, and often (against so-called ‘superbugs’) ineffective, nanotechnology is holding the key to an affordable solution.

This is because a recent breakthrough made by researchers at Palacký University in Olomouc in the Czech Republic and at Empa in Switzerland is pointing directly to such a possibility. Their study reports the creation of a metal-free, polymer-based coating that destroys bacteria and viruses when exposed to near-infrared (NIR) light.

At the heart of the discovery lies the intelligent application of nanomaterials, as a polyvinyl alcohol matrix is combined with a nitrogen-doped graphenic acid. Once activated by NIR light, it demonstrates a dual antimicrobial effect by creating enough localised heat to kill pathogens. At the same time oxygen radicals are formed which damage bacterial membranes and viral envelopes.

Related articles: A Nanotech Breakthrough in Long-Term Antibacterial Coatings or Nanotech Enhances Sustainable Barrier Packaging

“The new material is designed to kill microorganisms locally and quickly,” explains Giacomo Reina from Empa's Nanomaterials in Health Laboratory in St. Gallen. “Our laboratory experiments have clearly confirmed the effectiveness of the antimicrobial material against various bacteria and viruses,” Reina adds.

Specifically, the study, which has now been published in the journal EcoMat, explains how, “… both viral and bacterial spreading can be hampered on the coating irradiation on a scale of minutes (5 to 10 min). The developed metal-free strategy reduced 90.9% and 99.99% for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively, as well as 99.97% for murine hepatitis virus.”

Notably, unlike silver or copper coatings, this system is metal-free, biocompatible, and reusable — all key selling points for industries under environmental and regulatory pressure.

While the first prototypes are already being tested in dental splints, the commercial potential is far broader, with applications in many fields. These include;

• Healthcare & MedTech: infection-resistant surgical tools, implants, catheters, and hospital furniture.

• Public transport & infrastructure: self-sterilising handles, buttons, and seating.

• Food industry: hygienic coatings for conveyor belts, tanks, and work surfaces resistant to listeria and salmonella.

• Consumer products: antimicrobial kitchen counters, smartphone displays, or textiles.

• Air & water filtration: pathogen-inactivating filters for HVAC, PPE masks, or water systems.

With each of these industries facing high costs from contamination and sterilisation downtime, the application of a nanotech-inspired antimicrobial coating is a compelling and competitive value proposition.

For SMEs, this innovation opens opportunities across the value chain. Raw material suppliers can incorporate nanomaterials to add antimicrobial functionality. Coating formulators can develop industry-specific surface treatments tailored to medical, consumer, or industrial settings. And at the end of the chain, customers such as hospitals, transport operators, food producers, and even government agencies are likely to pay a premium for solutions that reduce infection risks.

The discovery comes at a time when demand for cleaner, safer coatings is already accelerating. Market analysts at Mordor Intelligence forecast that the global antimicrobial coatings market will expand by 7.41% between 2025 and 2030 — representing more than $2 billion in added value over just five years. For SMEs, this trend signals a unique chance to move from niche innovation to mainstream adoption.

Like other nanotechnologies, light-activated polymer/graphenic coatings are not just a laboratory breakthrough — they represent a scalable commercial opportunity with cross-industry relevance.

Other nanomaterial discoveries have enabled polymers to be provided with added strength, UV protection, chemical and scratch resistance, and even adjustable electrical conductivity.

This latest breakthrough offers sterilisation of surfaces without metals, with a lower environmental risk, and cost savings at a time that aligns perfectly with tightening regulations and shifting buyer priorities.

For traders, formulators, and manufacturers, the call to action is clear: consider the adoption of nanotechnology into your products or be left behind as competitors take advantage of the production cost savings, unique-selling points, or lower feedstock costs that nanomaterials can now create.

To find out more contact info@polymernanocentrum.cz or visit POLYMER NANO CENTRUM.

Photo credit: Freepik, Aleksanderlittlewolf, Starline, & kjpargeter