Please note that the English version of this text has been prepared with the assistance of AI, and in some instances, it may not have been subsequently reviewed or edited by the authors.
What if surfaces didn't just fight microbes on their own, but also allowed people to check if they are still protected? Young Latvian scientists are working on precisely this kind of invention. In the show “Latvija zinātnē” (Science in Latvia), Rihards Ruska, a researcher at the Institute of Solid State Physics at the University of Latvia (UL), reveals how an idea born during the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed into an unusual sprayable coating that helps protect surfaces long-term. The conversations are created in cooperation with “Rietumu Banka”, and the scientists are supported by the UL Foundation.
An idea that was born during the pandemic
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, Ruska and a fellow student wondered how pointless it is to constantly disinfect the exact same surfaces. It seemed very wasteful to keep using cleaning and disinfecting agents on surfaces all the time, repeating the same action many times every day, Rihards Ruska says.
Thus the idea for a coating capable of providing long-term protection against microbes was born. Unlike conventional disinfectants, such as alcohol, which evaporate, the new coating must remain on the surface and provide a long-lasting antimicrobial effect.
Initially, the two used copper, which has antimicrobial properties, but the disadvantage of such a solution quickly became apparent. “It turned out that people are not interested in using it for daily life, because then all surfaces would have to be covered with copper, everything would look orange, and that is not very aesthetic,” says Ruska.
Researchers began developing a more practical coating using the antimicrobial properties of copper and silver. The challenge was to ensure that the substances in the coating would destroy microbes without posing a threat to a person touching the treated surface.
Ruska points out that such a sprayable antimicrobial coating is necessary in places where a safe and clean environment must be ensured in the long term, such as hospitals, laboratories, schools, and elsewhere.
Why does the protective coating need to shine?
The first created coating was completely invisible. However, the researchers realized that in that case, a person would not be able to determine whether the protection is still working. “In reality, all things wear out over time, and then a situation can arise where the coating has worn out, microbes are already starting to grow, but a person has no way of telling,” the scientist explains.
Therefore, the idea arose to add a luminescent or light-emitting component to the coating. This would make it possible, with appropriate lighting, to check whether the coating is still on the surface and to notice its wear.
Based on their self-developed “Dezosil” and “Fungosil” coatings, the researchers participated in the biomedical and photonics innovation platform “BioPhoT”. Within its framework, they improved the antimicrobial and optical properties of these compositions, and as a result, a smart sprayable coating was developed that destroys microorganisms and visually demonstrates its effectiveness through luminescence.
It works in the lab, but will it be sellable?
Ruska emphasizes that creating scientifically interesting material is only half the job. It is just as important to understand whether it can be produced in larger quantities and at an affordable price. “What is very easy to make in a laboratory is not always easy to make and market in large quantities,” he explains.
That is why they chose a practical approach—first, they investigated what products could be manufactured simply and economically, and only then did they look for opportunities to create something scientifically new. The researchers also familiarized themselves with the products available on the market and the requirements that must be met in order to offer the invention to customers in the future.
Where could the invention be used, and who is already interested in it?
The potential application of the coating is wide – from households where mold is a problem, to scientific laboratories and medical institutions, where it is especially important to ensure a clean environment. According to Ruska, hospitals, as well as cleaning product distributors in Latvia and Lithuania, have already expressed interest in the invention.
Ruska admits that the technology could also be useful in military medicine, where care for the wounded must be provided in difficult conditions. “In science, this happens quite often – you start researching one thing, but it turns out that the intended path is closed and you have to look for another. Or quite the opposite – more and more new turns and possibilities are revealed,” Ruska says.
Such changes have also been experienced by the invention of Ruska and his colleague, which has evolved from the initial concept of copper surfaces into a luminescent antimicrobial and anti-mold coating. Its composition has already been largely perfected and a patent application has been filed, but work is still ongoing. The next goal is to develop the technology into a product that can be manufactured in Latvia and offered to the market.
The Radio SWH TV broadcast “Latvia in Science” introduces Latvian scientists, researchers, and innovators whose ideas and achievements are shaping future technologies and solutions, while simultaneously revealing science as a fascinating and human process. Conversations with scientists are produced in cooperation with “Rietumu Bank” – excellence is never a coincidence. Scientists are supported by the University of Latvia Foundation.
The show can be watched on Radio SWH TV on Thursdays at 20:00, while the repeat is on Sundays at 15:00.
