Researchers from the University of Georgia have developed a coating to help prevent hospital-acquired infections.

Bacterial growth on medical devices can form a tough-to-penetrate biofilm, which can potentially lead to hospital-acquired infections. To combat this health hazard, the team combined zinc oxide and copper nanoparticles and a liquid-repellant coating to prevent the formation of biofilm on medical devices.

According to the researchers, when applied to sponges in the lab the coating prevented fluids like water, milk, coffee and blood from sticking to the surface of the sponges. Likewise, the coating reportedly killed bacteria, which failed to adhere to the sponge, and repelled most of the particles in blood associated with clotting.

Determining that the coating would be appropriate for use on medical devices based on its performance on sponges — logic being that if the coating works on an absorbent sponge, it would also perform well on medical device surfaces — the researchers will explore whether the coating could be applied to IVs, endotracheal tubes, bandages and other medical devices and tools.

For more information on the coating, watch the accompanying video that appears courtesy of the University of Georgia.

The research appears in the ACS journal Applied Materials and Interfaces.