New antibacterial coatings can be used on medical dressings for wounds and may help reduce the rate of infections and shorten the time of in-patient hospital admissions.

Harmless to human cells, the new method of producing nanocomposite antibacterial coatings, developed at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) in Warsaw, can be used to modify the surfaces of various materials.

The coatings can be used to improve the level of hygiene of everyday items such as clothing and sportswear. The nanocomposite coatings from the IPC PAS reportedly can be applied in a fast and cost-effective process.

The antibacterial coatings are prepared in solutions of boron compounds containing colloidal nanoparticles of gold. After polymerization, gold nanocomposites are deposited on the surface of the object immersed in the colloid within several minutes.

Gold’s nanocomposite coatings are stable and do not degrade during laundering. Laboratory tests have been carried out with both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. After 12 hours the number of bacteria of both types decreased by as much as 90%.

The antibacterial action of the new coatings releases toxic substances only to the direct contact of bacteria. The nanocomposite itself is not released from the material or the dressing, so it acts as an antibacterial for longer and without harming the body.

Other possible uses include hydrogel dressings and scaffolds used for cell and tissue culture.