UBC materials engineering researchers Dr. Amanda Clifford and Dr. Edouard Asselin are developing an advanced copper coating that could help reduce the spread of aggressive infections contracted through contaminated surfaces in hospitals and other health care settings.
With a microscopically rough texture that prevents the attachment or growth of bacteria, the new coating may ward off a broader range of major pathogens than existing copper coatings do.
The UBC technology will also offer a low-cost, scalable solution for health care facilities looking to modify high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs and bedrails with antimicrobial copper, thanks to the innovative process — called “electrodeposition” — that is being used to manufacture the coating.
The project is made possible through financial support from Teck and its Copper & Health program.
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