The first long-lasting coating developed by a team of engineers and immunologists from the University of Michigan can kill bacteria and viruses in minutes and continue to kill them for months at a time. The researchers have proved the coating to be deadly to SARS-CoV-2, E. coli, MRSA, and a variety of other pathogens and that it killed 99.9% of microbes even after months of repeated cleaning, abrasion, and other punishment on real-world surfaces like keyboards, cell phone screens, and chicken-slathered cutting boards.

Dr. Anish Tuteja, a professor of material science and engineering at U-M and co-corresponding author of the paper published in Matter, stated that disinfectant cleaners can kill germs in only a minute or two, but they dissipate quickly and leave surfaces vulnerable to reinfection. He added that there are long-lasting antibacterial surfaces based on metals like copper and zinc, but they take hours to kill bacteria. The coating offers the best of both worlds.

Dr. Tuteja claimed that the coating, which is clear and can be brushed or sprayed on, gets its durability and germ-killing power by combining tried-and-true ingredients. The coating uses antimicrobial molecules derived from tea tree oil and cinnamon oil, which have been used for centuries as safe and effective germ killers. The coat’s durability, which works in under two minutes, comes from polyurethane, a varnish-like sealer used on surfaces like floors and furniture. The findings of the study suggested that the coating can keep killing germs for six months or longer before its oil evaporates, thereby reducing its disinfectant power. But even then, Dr. Tuteja noted that the coating can be recharged by wiping it with fresh oil, as the new oil can be reabsorbed by the surface, starting the cycle again. 

(Source: https://theprint.in/health/coating-could-be-a-game-changer-to-kill-covid-virus-germs-in-minutes-study/1117701/ )