A scientist from Russia’s Tomsk State University (TSU) has developed a photocatalytic coating spray to disinfect high-traffic areas such as schools and hospitals, protecting against the spread of bacteria.

The non-toxic, colorless and odorless photocatalytic coating is a mixture of titanium dioxide and particles of silver. Once it is sprayed on a surface and exposed to light, the coating’s disinfecting properties are triggered. In the dark, however, the coating is neutral.

Although the mixture is already available in film form as vinyl sheets that can be adhered to walls and flooring, the research team led by TSU Faculty of Chemistry scientist Alexander Buzaev believes that in spray form the performance of the coating will be improved, forming a barrier on surfaces of difficult shapes and sizes, for instance on door handles.

Under testing, the spray coating performed well on materials such as wood, plastic and glass surfaces. Although the effectiveness of the spray-on bacteria is currently at just 41%, the team intends to improve the spray’s effectiveness to at least 90%.

Researchers have long been attempting to develop disinfecting solutions for treating locations with a high risk of infection. Among those solutions is an antimicrobial coating for metal surfaces developed by scientists at the University of Birmingham in the U.K. that quickly kills bacteria linked to hospital-acquired infections. Meanwhile, a growing number of healthcare facilities are employing robots that use ultraviolet light to disinfect hospital rooms and a glove with antimicrobial properties has also been developed to halt the spread of infection in medical settings.