New production method for an antiviral coating

Coatings made of plastic can improve the properties of a wide variety of surfaces, for example by giving them antiviral properties. A team from Materials Science at Kiel University has analyzed six coating materials for biomedical applications and investigated how they interact with respiratory viruses, cancer cells and connective tissue cells. The researchers' findings have been published in the journal Advanced Materials Interfaces and have already found practical application in a first industrial project in which antiviral glass was developed.  

The iCVD process offers a wide range of options for customizing coatings and optimizing them for various biomedical applications. For example, products for cell cultivation can be coated to improve the adhesion and cultivation of cells. As the method requires no solvents and few chemicals, it is also significantly more environmentally friendly than conventional wet-chemical coating processes. 

An initial application example has already been realized together with a southern German window manufacturer. In a project funded by the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, various antiviral coatings were applied to window glass. These are suitable for smaller surfaces that are exposed to frequent contact, such as touch displays in ambulances, filters in respiratory masks or EC devices at supermarket checkouts. 

A team from the Chair is planning to implement the findings of iCVD research on an industrial scale and is currently preparing to set up a company. This initiative is supported by the EXIST research transfer program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, which is co-financed by the EU.  

COMPAMED-tradefair.com; Source: Kiel University