Thanks to a team of researchers, the University of Calgary is helping to develop an antimicrobial additive that may heavily impact the spread of touch-based bacteria for the foreseeable future.
Mehdi Mohammadi Ashani, with the Department of Biological Sciences at UCalgary, dubbed the additive Tri-Filler as one of several researchers working on the additive. He said that the solution is designed to continuously reduce bacterial contamination on a surface.
“It helps create a cleaner and safer environment and also has the potential to be incorporated into paint, protective coating, polymer construction material, water filtration system and dental material,” he said.
“It could transform everyday products into active tools for infection prevention or disinfection.”
Mohammadi Ashani said that surfaces in hospitals, schools and daycare centres need to be constantly cleaned, and that’s where Tri-Filler comes into play.
The additive works by entrapping calcium hydroxide, a common active antibacterial component, in a calcium carbonate shell that can vary in thickness based on the chosen use.
If used in paint or concrete in a hospital, for instance, the calcium hydroxide inside could be released over time, essentially becoming self-cleaning, Mohammadi Ashani said.
“Tri-Filler has the potential to provide continuous antimicrobial protection within the cleaning cycle, helping reduce bacterial contamination and also contribute to a healthier public environment,” he said.
Scaling, out-of-lab tests next on agenda
Mohammadi Ashani has been working with the university since 2017 and said that Tri-Filler has been made in partnership with the Schulich School of Engineering, Biosenta Inc., and the Alberta Centre for Advanced Diagnostics (ACAD) in the Faculty of Science.
Thus far, combined tests and research have found that Tri-Filler is more than 200 times as effective at killing bacteria as calcium hydroxide alone.
To mimic real-world contamination, Mohammadi Ashani said the team can 3-D print a sample that is the same as conditions in hospitals and other testing environments. He said that these are research-based and still require validation, however.
Great discoveries don’t change lives until they leave the lab. According to Mohammadi Ashani, getting into practical testing is the next big milestone for Tri-Filler.
“We have demonstrated promising laboratory performance here at the UofC, and the next phase is expanding this validation study and completing regulatory pathways for each of these applications,” he said.
“Each application has its own regulatory demand, and to scale this technology for mass production has its own requirements.”
Mohammadi Ashani could not provide a timeline for when the project’s next steps may take place, as things are always moving, he said.
Tri-Filler uses food-grade components, including its calcium hydroxide. Mohammadi Ashani said that safety has always been a top priority.
“Because we use food-grade materials, the path to regulatory approval is much smoother. Obviously, this is for touch; it’s not for inhaling and not for digestion; it’s not a drug,” he said.
