Scalable Antibacterial Coatings for Medical Textiles: A Breakthrough in Infection Control
Last November SYMSITES took part in the 12th International Conference on Fibber and Polymer Biotechnology, held in Boras, Sweden. The project partners from UPC presented an innovative, eco-friendly antimicrobial coating for medical textiles.
In this work, our partners from UPC utilised a green chemistry approach that combines enzymes and natural flavonoids with ultrasonic irradiation, to create a bio-adhesive network that seamlessly integrates silver-phenolated lignin nanoparticles into cotton fibbers. These nanoparticles offer enhanced antimicrobial properties, as they are highly effective against bacteria at low concentrations.
One of the key advantages of this coating is its exceptional durability, as the coated textile retained over 95% of its antibacterial efficiency even after 60 laundry cycles. Additionally, the treated textiles provide broad-spectrum protection against relevant nosocomial pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli, while also reducing the risk of developing bacterial resistance, a growing concern with conventional antibiotics treatment. Furthermore, the fabric exhibits high water repellence, making it particularly suitable for medical settings where exposure to bodily fluids is common.
Beyond the laboratory results, the method was successfully upscaled using a continuous roll-to-roll sonochemical pilot system, demonstrating its feasibility for industrial-scale textile production. This single-step, enzyme-driven process not only ensures long-lasting antimicrobial protection but also provides a sustainable and scalable solution for infection prevention, representing a significant breakthrough in the development of high-performance medical textiles.
