SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Visible light activated self disinfecting surfaces to reduce hospital acquired infections Healthcare Associated InfectionsHAIsacquired during stays in medical facilitiesdetrimentally affect patient outcomesand they are an unfortunate cause of numerous potentially avoidable deathsA significant number of these infections are antibiotic resistantmaking them particularly difficult to treatA common transmission mode involves contaminated high touch surfaces and medical equipmentStandard liquid wipe down disinfection methods for touch surfaces are periodicand many studies show that significant levels of pathogens persist post cleaningNew disinfectant treatmentsUV C radiationozoneand disinfectant vaporsare effectivebut they are hazardous and can only be implemented for terminal cleaningi eafter a hospital room is vacatedAntimicrobialorself disinfectingsurfacesare highly desirable to complement standard cleaning protocolsAn ideal surface continuously deactivates colony forming unitsCFUsreducing the probability of spreading infectious agents between cleaning eventsReduced infectious burden would also enhance the effectiveness of periodic liquid cleaningThe surface should have a high killing efficiency for a broad range of bacteriavirusesand sporesand be nontoxic to humansSonata Scientific s technology will result in a nontoxichighly durablewearresistant surface coating containing a nanoengineered composite photocatalyst able to mitigate a broad spectrum of pathogensThe photocatalyst is tuned for activation by light emitting diodesLEDsused in ambient lightingavoiding harmful UV lightand activated by wavelengths in the visible violet region that do not disrupt sleep in patientsThe antimicrobial coating will also be stimulated by normal light sourcesincluding natural fluorescent lightsSonata Scientific will extend their proven synthetic methodologies for preparing composite photocatalysts to visiblelight activated analogues to enhance antimicrobial efficacy for antibiotic resistant pathogensAn innovative strategy will be implemented to produce a highly durablewear resistant coating specifically designed to provide ample antimicrobial action at the surface while minimizing polymer degradation from the reactive photocatalytic speciesCoating strategies will address the manufacturing of new furnitureequipmentand devices as well as existing furniture and equipmentThe photocatalytic surface will be compatible with existing periodic disinfection strategies and result in continuously self disinfecting surfaces that reduce HAIs and improve patient outcomeswww sonatamaterials comNarrative Sonata Scientific LLC JanuaryContinuously self disinfecting surfaces offer an excellent opportunity to reduce the number of healthcare associated infectionsHAIsarising from antibiotic resistantARbacteria on hightouch surfaces following typical hospital cleaning protocolsThe bactericidal activity of the proposed nontoxic surfaces is activated with visible lightallowing the surfaces to continuously maintain a low pathogen count in between cleaning episodesThe reduction in HAIs resulting from these self disinfecting surfaces will enhance health by reducing illnessshortening hospital staysimproving patient recovery ratesand prolonging life
