EU project SUSAAN - SUStainable Antimicrobial and Antiviral Nanocoatings

Each person comes into contact with 300 surfaces every 30 minutes on average, exposing them to 840,000 germs; up to 80 % of communicable diseases are transferred by touch. Pathogens of infectious can be found on many surfaces: credit cards, cell phones, elevator buttons (they harbour 22% more bacteria than toilet seats) [1].  Infectious diseases pose a significant threat to both, human health and the global economy, causing more than 20 % of deaths worldwide. Viruses cause about one-third of these deaths - about 1.4 million children under the age of 5 die from diarrheal diseases and pneumonia — two of the most deadly diseases affecting children worldwide.

In the SUSAAN project, we focus on the development and validation of novel sustainable antimicrobial and antiviral nano-enable coatings for textiles and high-traffic areas made of plastics and metal, used in textile, bathroom and switch industries, among others, that are susceptible to pathogens contamination.

SUSAAN will implement a large platform of originally designed organic or inorganic nanoparticles (NPs), bio-based nanofibers (NFs) and nanocapsules (NCs) with proven antimicrobial/antiviral (AN/AV) efficiency for achieving the project aims. Green/eco-friendly synthetic methods will be used for NPs/NFs/NCs production. Moreover, necessary modifications will be performed during as well as before or after the stage of synthesis/defibrillation. The selection of the processing route, the type of  modification,  the formation of the NF/NP complex or the use in the single form etc., is based on the principle of sustainability and effectivity of the AN/AV components in different coating types for different substrates.

IVW’s role in the SUSAAN project is the development and upscaling of the stable NCs containing different active materials, complex/hybrid metal oxide NPs, antraquinones (developed by the project partners) as well as bio-based and biodegradable active substance, such as essential oils (EOs) or their combinations. Encapsulation of active materials in polymer capsules can protect them from degradation and prolong their activity. In addition, incorporation of new functional side groups in the polymer chain can improve the encapsulation efficiency and release profile of AN/AV substances by increasing their compatibility with matrix and adhesion to surface, and improving stability and storage ability through partially crosslinking the NCs.

The strenght of the SUSAAN project is its technological and scientific partners who are experts on main areas of nanoparticles, coatings, pretreatment, bio-based nanocapsules and toxicity assessment.  Furthermore, companies involved to cover the whole value change based on their core business, including coatings production, bio-based products, bathrooms, home appliances and textiles, as well as activities regarding the Biocidal Products Regulation and sustainability assessment.

The project " SUSAAN - SUStainable Antimicrobial and Antiviral Nanocoatings " is funded by Horizon Europe program. Project no.: 101057988.

Kontakt:

Dr. Liudmyla Gryshchuk
Tel. 0631 2017 282
E-Mail: liudmyla.gryshchuk@ivw.uni-kl.de