Grant: Engage Plus Grants Program

We propose the further development of an antimicrobial cleaning coating and process for ""Touch"" electronics first discovered during our most recent NSERC engage grant. This process involves the application of an environmentally safe UV sensitive coating via electrostatic spraying on to receptive glass and plastic surfaces. These coated surfaces are inhospitable to pathogenic bacteria that are often transferred from handling of these surfaces or devices. This new coating and process has the potential to create a paradigm shift in making touch electronics fully antimicrobial.Touch electronics, including the glass surfaces and plastic shells of tablets, laptops, cellphones and monitors used in our daily lives are constantly exposed to potentially harmful bacteria from their surrounding environments. Bacteria readily adapt and survive undetected in colonies called biofilms on surfaces that support pathogenic bacteria. Touch surfaces are ideal locations to accumulate and help the spread of potential fatal bacteria. To build a more permanent solution to the proliferation of bacteria on these surfaces, a non-toxic antimicrobial bacteria is required.Over the last 6 months Ryerson researchers have identified a new process to treat high surface energy surfaces that are normally difficult to coat to. The non-leaching UV-curable coatings have been successfully fixed to treated phone glass and plastic casing surfaces. Further development and testing by both Ryerson researchers and their partner Whoosh Inc of this process is required. Continuing support of this work through funding secured by the NSERC engage plus program is necessary to deliver the next generation of antimicrobial products to touch electronics. The benefits to Canada are in job creation in chemical manufacturing as well as providing a real solution to positively impact health outcomes.