Multilevel Antimicrobial Colloids for Optically Clear Screens

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing antimicrobial treatments for high-touch surfaces, such as electronic devices, often damage materials, leave residual chemicals, and are ineffective against drug-resistant organisms, posing infection risks and compromising material properties like optical clarity and texture.

Innovation Solution

Development of multilevel antimicrobial polymeric colloids with polymer scaffolds and antimicrobial polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyethyleneimine, incorporated into acrylate coatings for electronics, which are cured using ultraviolet light to create an optically clear, durable, and effective antimicrobial surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If common cleaning agents and disinfectants are used to remove microbial contaminants, then microbial contamination is reduced, but material surfaces are damaged and harmful chemical residues are left

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial effectivenessVSAvoidsurface damage and chemical residues

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the antimicrobial function from harsh chemical disinfectants and embeds it directly into the coating matrix through incorporated antimicrobial agents. This allows the coating itself to provide antimicrobial protection without requiring application of separate chemical disinfectants that cause surface damage and residue accumulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The coating acts as an intermediary layer between the substrate and microbial contaminants. It provides a protective barrier that delivers antimicrobial action through the coating matrix rather than requiring direct contact with aggressive disinfectant chemicals, thereby protecting the underlying material surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If manufacturer-approved detergents are used to clean electronic devices, then contamination is removed, but specialized training is required and risk of surface damage, liquid infiltration, and electrical short-circuiting increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination removalVSAvoidapplication complexity and safety risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The antimicrobial protection is built into the coating during manufacturing, performing the protective function in advance. This eliminates the need for users to apply specialized detergents later, removing the complexity and safety risks associated with improper application while maintaining continuous antimicrobial protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The coating provides self-service antimicrobial protection through its inherent properties. It continuously protects the surface without requiring user intervention or application of additional cleaning agents, making the system easy to operate and free from application errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If traditional antimicrobial treatments are applied to high-touch surfaces, then microbial growth is inhibited, but material properties such as optical clarity and texture are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial protectionVSAvoidoptical clarity and texture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates antimicrobial agents locally within the coating matrix at controlled concentrations and distributions. This localized integration allows the coating to provide antimicrobial protection at the surface level while maintaining the bulk material's optical clarity and texture properties unchanged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The coating is formulated as a composite material combining the base coating matrix with incorporated antimicrobial agents. This composite structure enables simultaneous achievement of antimicrobial functionality and preservation of desirable optical and textural properties through synergistic material design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution provides a durable, optically clear antimicrobial coating that effectively reduces bacterial and viral contamination by over 95% within minutes, maintaining material integrity and safety without the use of harmful chemicals.

Implementation Method 1

which are cured using ultraviolet light to create an optically clear, durable, and effective antimicrobial surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerisation: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS20230189811A1Multilevel antimicrobial polymeric colloids and device screens containing same

Publication Date: 2023.06.22 THE HONG KONG UNIV OF SCI & TECH

AI summary

A multilevel antimicrobial polymeric colloidal particle includes a polymer scaffold and at least one antimicrobial polymer carried on the polymer scaffold, where the polymer scaffold and the at least one antimicrobial polymer form a hollow colloidal particle. An antimicrobial core may be received within the hollow colloidal particle. The multilevel antimicrobial polymeric colloidal particles may be incorporated into an optically clear acrylic material to form an antimicrobial coating. The antimicrobial coating may be coated and ultraviolet cured onto a glass, metal or plastic substrate or the like to form a screen for electronic devices or the like which has antimicrobial properties.