{"id":36566,"date":"2026-05-05T18:38:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T18:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=36566"},"modified":"2026-05-07T16:38:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T16:38:16","slug":"polymer-bristles-coating-could-stop-germs-from-spreading","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/polymer-bristles-coating-could-stop-germs-from-spreading\/","title":{"rendered":"Polymer &#8216;Bristles&#8217; Coating Could Stop Germs From Spreading"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">Researchers at the University of Toronto have engineered a surface coating made of flexible polymer chains that prevents bacteria-linked proteins from adhering \u2014 potentially cutting the risk of hospital-acquired infections without harsh chemicals.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A new surface coating developed by engineers at the University of Toronto could change how hospitals fight infection \u2014 by making surfaces so slippery that bacteria-binding proteins simply can&#8217;t hold on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The coating, described in a study <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1385894726008764\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in <em>Chemical Engineering Journal<\/em>, is made from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a biocompatible silicone polymer already used in medical devices ranging from contact lenses to implants. The innovation lies not in the material itself, but in how it&#8217;s arranged: instead of being cross-linked into a rigid solid like conventional silicone rubber, the PDMS is configured into long, flexible chains that stand upright from the surface \u2014 like bristles on a brush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those bristle-like chains are key. Because they can bend and sway, the surface behaves in a &#8220;liquidlike&#8221; way that makes it extremely difficult for proteins to gain a grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Stopping Proteins Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many hospital-acquired infections \u2014 a significant and persistent public health challenge \u2014 begin not with direct contact with bacteria, but with the protein-rich biofilms bacteria leave behind on surfaces. Kevin Golovin, an\u00a0associate professor in mechanical &amp; industrial engineering at the University of Toronto, explained the chain of events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Many infectious diseases are transmitted by touch,&#8221; Golovin, who leads the Durable Repellent Engineered Advanced Materials (DREAM) Laboratory at the University of Toronto, said in a news release. &#8220;The microbes that carry them typically release a sticky layer of proteins that enable their attachment to a surface. If you can stop those proteins from sticking, you can stop the disease from spreading.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Currently, the go-to approach for keeping clinical surfaces sanitary involves repeated application of disinfectants. Golovin noted that method has real drawbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Right now, the simplest way to keep a surface clean and free of disease-causing microbes is to wash it with disinfectants like bleach,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But of course, it&#8217;s not great for the humans that work in these environments to be constantly exposed to these toxic products. And any time you&#8217;re using chemicals to kill pathogens, you&#8217;re increasing the chance of some strain evolving to be immune to them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the Coating Was Tested<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To evaluate the coating&#8217;s effectiveness, the team used bovine serum albumin (BSA), a protein derived from cow&#8217;s blood, as a stand-in for the adhesive proteins secreted by pathogens. Droplets of BSA dissolved in salt water were placed on the PDMS-bristle surface alongside surfaces coated with other non-stick materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lead author Mehdi Sadeghi, a doctoral student, described what typically happens when such a droplet dries on an ordinary surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;As the droplet evaporates, what you normally see is that the BSA moves to the edges, forming something that looks like a coffee ring \u2014 a dark ring that stays behind on the surface even after all the water is gone,&#8221; Sadeghi said in the news release.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The PDMS bristle surface behaved very differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;But on the liquidlike surface covered in PDMS bristles, we didn&#8217;t see that. Instead, the ring shrunk along with the droplet, because the proteins just couldn&#8217;t stick,&#8221; Sadeghi added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;All you&#8217;re left with at the end is a small dot of residue that just flakes off at the slightest touch: even a small puff of air is enough to make it fly off the surface. You could also wash it off with plain water, rather than harsh chemicals like bleach.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The PDMS bristles also outperformed polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) \u2014 a class of chemicals that includes Teflon \u2014 in resisting protein adhesion. That&#8217;s a notable finding, given that high-level PFAS exposure has been linked to health risks including cancer, making PDMS a potentially safer option for medical environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Comes Next<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team&#8217;s next steps include collaborating with researchers who specialize in pathogenic bacteria to test whether the coating repels real bacterial proteins as effectively as it handles BSA. They are also in discussions with medical equipment manufacturers about licensing or commercializing the technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The research received partial funding from Meltech Innovation Canada Inc., part of the Medicom Group, a global producer of infection control products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Golovin noted that scaling up production will be a key consideration going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;The coating process is scalable, and its wider deployment will depend on optimizing manufacturing integration,&#8221; said Golovin. &#8220;Further assessment will be required to identify cost-effective pathways that align with the significant protective performance this technology enables, supporting potential expansion into both high-value equipment and single-use products. We&#8217;re very excited about the future possibilities.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For students interested in materials science, biomedical engineering, or public health, the research illustrates how molecular-level design decisions can have wide-ranging implications for patient safety and antibiotic resistance \u2014 two of the most pressing challenges facing modern medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"source-attribution wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/news.engineering.utoronto.ca\/polymer-bristles-could-help-repel-proteins-and-germs-from-surfaces-in-medical-settings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Researchers at the University of Toronto have engineered a surface coating made of flexible polymer chains that prevents bacteria-linked proteins from adhering \u2014 potentially cutting the risk of hospital-acquired infections without harsh chemicals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":36565,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[1536,701,1534,1538,1537,1535,1533,39],"class_list":["post-36566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","tag-antimicrobial-materials","tag-biomedical-engineering","tag-hospital-acquired-infections","tag-medicom-group","tag-meltech-innovation-canada-inc","tag-polymer-science","tag-surface-coating","tag-university-of-toronto"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/polymer-bristles-coating-could-stop-germs-from-spreading.png",1792,1024,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/polymer-bristles-coating-could-stop-germs-from-spreading-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/polymer-bristles-coating-could-stop-germs-from-spreading-300x171.png",300,171,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/polymer-bristles-coating-could-stop-germs-from-spreading-768x439.png",768,439,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/polymer-bristles-coating-could-stop-germs-from-spreading-1024x585.png",1024,585,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/polymer-bristles-coating-could-stop-germs-from-spreading-1536x878.png",1536,878,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/polymer-bristles-coating-could-stop-germs-from-spreading.png",1792,1024,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Researchers at the University of Toronto have engineered a surface coating made of flexible polymer chains that prevents bacteria-linked proteins from adhering \u2014 potentially cutting the risk of hospital-acquired infections without harsh chemicals.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36566"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36699,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36566\/revisions\/36699"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}