Developed by researchers at the University of Birmingham, patented by University of Birmingham Enterprise, and to be commercialised by a new company NitroPep, the coating – also called NitroPep - has been heralded as a new tool in the fight against the spread of infection.

The results showed that the coating was effective against five different bacteria that are responsible for hospital-acquired infections. 

The research also showed that the coating killed bacteria within 45 minutes – far more rapidly than currently commercially available technologies which do not have a significant effect on bacteria until up to 24 hours.

Published in Materials Science and Engineering C: Materials for Biological Applications, the research was carried out by scientists at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Microbiology and Infection and School of Chemistry; the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine; the University of Nottingham; and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham which is part of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Felicity de Cogan, Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellow at the University of Birmingham and Chief Scientific Officer at NitroPep, said:

“Despite increased sterilisation and education campaigns, hospital acquired infections have not been eradicated and the accumulation of bacteria on frequently touched surfaces is key in the transmission of infection."

Article credit: University of Birmingham