SafeTouch

The transmission of pathogens from contaminated surfaces to humans is a major threat for the public health as it is associated with Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs) and Community Acquired Infections (CAIs). Maintaining surfaces clean from pathogens is an undisputable requirement but, at the same time, a laborious, manual, costly process that requires use of harmful chemicals. We propose the development of a novel microfilm, the iSafeTouch (iST) microfilm, that provides a heat shock to the pathogens on its surface, killing them instantly. Core element of the iST technology is the successful integration of heaters and touch sensors on flexible substrates. The proposed novel integration scheme, based on a scalable microfabrication process, is critical for achieving high performance and robust operation. We will microfabricate the iST microfilms and demonstrate that they are efficient in killing different pathogens in vitro and they are safe to use. --- SafeTouch (Self-disinfecting, smart microfilms for healthcare & community acquired infections) is a project funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement number 101185759. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.