For health care staff, professors at Panjab University have developed affordable antimicrobial nano-coatings for masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to prevent them from being contaminated with COVID-19.
Chemistry Department Professor Surinder Kumar Mehta and Associate Professor Harinder Pal Kang, UCIM, developed the non-toxic coatings that destroy microbes like the novel coronavirus on the outer surfaces of the masks. The project has also been submitted for detailed study at DST, Ministry of Technology.
Nano-Copper ensures minimal microbial contaminant penetration and accumulation on the coated surfaces. The coating also has the ability to reduce the risk of secondary infection by reducing the microbes' transmission, Professor Mehta said. The spray-coating will cover Coronavirus surfaces for up to 45 days, he added.
"The invention is affordable. Copper is more cheaper than silver and titanium. Poor people will benefit from this technology. It can be sprayed / dip-coated on any surface, including textiles and other surfaces of medical equipment, to get rid of microbial loads. This would allow the reusability of masks / PPEs and easy microbial containment," he said.
After performance and clinical testing, the coating will be made available for commercial purchase in future times. The technology was developed with the help of a private technology-research firm, Ceyone Consultants LLP, based in Chandigarh.
In Punjab, more than 1,700 cases were registered linked to Coronavirus. Twenty-nine people in the state have died from the infection so far.
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