Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

The proposed project with George Brown College's Centre for Health Sciences and Integran Technologies Inc. (Integran) seeks to validate the antibacterial efficacy of Integran's ultra-high purity, nanocrystalline copper (nCu) coating for touch surfaces towards the overall reduction in the spread of infection. Integran is a world leader in revolutionary metallurgical nano-technologies. Integran and its predecessor organizations have been at the forefront of metallurgical nano-technology development and commercialization for over twenty years. In the proposed project, door handles coated with Integran's nCu will be installed and tested alongside incumbents at the college's Waterfront campus to simulate such environments as health clinics, fitness studios, office environments and general public spaces. Results from this study will inform and direct Integran's commercialization efforts, leading to the eventual qualification of this material and licensing of the technology. Implementation of nCu on touch surfaces is expected to result in a reduction in nosocomial and infectious disease transmission, all leading to improved health of Canadians, cost savings to the Canadian health care system and a reduction in productivity loss due to illness.