Biphasic Antimicrobial Coating for Rapid Biocide Transport

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing antimicrobial coatings struggle to quickly and effectively deactivate SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces due to slow biocide transport and limited availability, requiring extended time periods to achieve 99.9% reduction.

Innovation Solution

A biphasic antimicrobial structure comprising a solid structural phase and a continuous transport phase with phase-separation lengths ranging from 100 nanometers to 500 microns, allowing for rapid transport and replenishment of antimicrobial agents to achieve 99.99% deactivation within 30 minutes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional antimicrobial coatings are used, then the surface provides antimicrobial protection, but the biocide transport is slow and requires at least 1 hour to achieve 99.9% reduction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial effectivenessVSAvoidtime to achieve 99.9% reduction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The coating is divided into two distinct phases: a hydrophobic solid structural phase providing mechanical integrity, and a hydrophilic continuous transport phase enabling rapid biocide delivery. This segmentation allows each phase to specialize in its function, resolving the contradiction between durability and fast action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite material system combining immiscible hydrophobic and hydrophilic phases. The hydrophobic phase (e.g., fluoropolymer) provides structural stability while the hydrophilic phase (e.g., polyacrylic acid) enables rapid water and biocide transport, achieving both reliability and speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If conventional solid coatings are used, then the coating maintains structural integrity, but the biocide availability at the surface is limited due to slow diffusion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating structural integrityVSAvoidbiocide availability at surface

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the coating have different properties: the hydrophobic solid structural phase provides mechanical strength and durability, while the hydrophilic continuous transport phase provides high biocide availability. Each phase is optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and biocide availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The hydrophilic continuous transport phase acts as an intermediary between the bulk coating and the surface environment. It rapidly transports biocides from the interior to the surface, ensuring high availability without compromising the structural integrity of the hydrophobic phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If single-material coatings are used, then the coating is simple to manufacture, but the water uptake is limited and cannot enable fast biocide transport

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating fabrication simplicityVSAvoidbiocide transport rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrophilic continuous transport phase is designed to dynamically respond to water exposure by swelling and enabling rapid biocide transport. This dynamic behavior allows the coating to transition from a stable structural state to a high-performance transport state when needed, achieving fast action without sacrificing manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The biphasic antimicrobial structure enables fast and effective deactivation of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces, achieving 99.99% reduction in a shorter time frame compared to conventional coatings, while maintaining durability and safety.

Implementation Method 1

The slow diffusion of biocides through the solid coating to the surface, competing with the removal of biocides from the surface by human and environmental contact, results in limited availability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS12239129B2Fast-acting antimicrobial surfaces, and methods of making and using the same

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 HRL LAB

AI summary

An antimicrobial coating is disclosed that provides fast transport rates of biocides for better effectiveness to deactivate SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses or bacteria on common surfaces. Some variations provide an antimicrobial structure comprising: a solid structural phase comprising a solid structural material; a continuous transport phase that is interspersed within the solid structural phase, wherein the continuous transport phase comprises a solid transport material; and an antimicrobial agent contained within the continuous transport phase, wherein the solid structural phase and the continuous transport phase are separated by an average phase-separation length from about 100 nanometers to about 500 microns. The antimicrobial structure is capable of destroying at least 99.99% of bacteria and/or viruses in 10 minutes of contact. Many options are disclosed for suitable materials to form the solid structural phase, the continuous transport phase, and the antimicrobial agent.