The catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic has attracted attention towards the spread of harmful pathogens facilitated by high-traffic surfaces, highlighting the importance and urgency of an economically and environmentally sustainable solution for antimicrobial surface as a potential strategy to mitigate the spread of disease outbreaks.

Nanoparticle (NP) filled coatings, with recognised effectiveness against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, are valuable candidates for developing antimicrobial surface and minimising the surface adhesion of pathogens. However, due to the many technical challenges, including difficulty in developing nanocoatings with a long-term antimicrobial capability, durability under real conditions and safety assurance, their application at the industrial level is still limited.

Goals 

SUPREME will develop a platform of efficient and multifunctional antimicrobial nanocoatings, building upon bespoke titanium dioxide nanoparticles ( (TiO2 NPs) that have demonstrated an exceptional antimicrobial ability at lab scale (TRL3). Two sustainable routes will be pursued:
1) customised core/shell and advanced functional nanoparticles;
2) hybrid fibre-nanoparticles (using sustainable bio-based cellulose materials and nanoparticles).  

Consortium

The SUPREME Consortium consists of 14 beneficiaries from five European countries (Italy, Spain, Greece, Belgium, and the Netherlands), one associated country (Norway), and four associated partners from the United Kingdom. The consortium assembles leading research groups with exceptional skills, track records, and resources, in a coherent and complementary arrangement. The multidisciplinary project team covers all expertise required to professionally implement a programme for the development of innovative and sustainable nanocoatings, their validation considering efficiency, safety, durability, and suitability for several industrial settings. 

The project coordinator is the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium). SUPREME started in January 2023 and will run until 31 December 2026.  

RIVM role

Wageningen University (WU) will carry out the nanotoxicity assessment in collaboration with RIVM. WU is a leading university with a research group specialising in toxicology. RIVM has substantial experience in nanotoxicology and risk assessment.  Professor Flemming Cassee (RIVM) and Dr Doctor (Doctor) Hans Bouwmeester (WU) will supervise a PhD student. 

Funding

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101058422.