(9b) Investigating Functionalized Particle – Microbe Interactions on ‘Touch’ Surfaces

Abstract: Disinfection of surfaces play a major role in deterring contact based pathogen transfer, thereby reducing infection rates. Common disinfection approaches employ the use soap and water (highly effective but not strong enough) and antimicrobial actives which are often harsh to the substrate/surfaces, and ultimately lead to antimicrobial resistance development. The primary objective of this study is to investigate a ‘non-kill’ based alternate disinfection approach focused on enhanced removal of microbes from skin via particle - bacteria interaction and stripping. The hypothesis that functionalized particles capable of interacting strongly with bacteria can be used to strip bacteria and disinfect surfaces more efficiently, has been verified with a set of functionalized particles for removing E. coli from a polymeric substrate. Particle momentum, particle – bacteria interaction strength, and particle concentration determined the disinfection efficacy. It was determined that modified particles could reduce bacterial concentrations to below detection limits (>4 log reduction) without inducing bacterial kill.