Infectious diseases will be responsible for 10 million deaths per year by 2050 mainly due to bacterial contaminated surfaces [1]. Thus, there is a growing demand to protect from Infectious diseases. Attachment and colonization of bacterial cells on the surface of home walls may also lead to the spread of some deadly community acquired diseases. Keeping the walls free and protected from such harmful bacteria by inhibiting the bacterial colonization on the surface of walls is the first step towards the prevention of these diseases. 

Antimicrobial is any compound or substance of nature and human made that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms [2]. The evolution of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria is not just the result of prescription neglect. The use of water-soluble antimicrobial compounds to spray or wash the surfaces can also lead to the development of microbial resistance. These can also be harmful for the human body and may disrupt hormones. Therefore, uncontrolled use of liquid antibacterial cleaning products used by you in your bathrooms and kitchens, are also responsible for development of such resistances in microbes. 

In view of the above there is an urgent need to develop self-sterilizing surfaces and building material that can kill or inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Many types of antimicrobial agents like nanoparticles, crystal violet, methylene blue, ammonium salt etc [3]. have been used by different companies in building materials to serve the purpose. 

 What is an antibacterial paint? 

An antibacterial paint contains antibacterial ingredients that make it effective against bacterial growth.

Silver nanoparticles technology: 

Nanotechnology is a science of study and applications of nanoparticles (size 1 to 100 nm) [4].  Over the past decades a significant progress has been achieved in the development of nanotechnology-based materials which acts as anti-bacterialagents. Among these, silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), also called as the new generation of anti-bacterialagents hold a great potential against microorganisms [5].  

Silver is the most toxic element among the 12 other tested metals Ag>Hg>Cu>Cd>Cr>Pb>Co>Au>Zn>Fe>Mn>Mo>Sn [6].According to various researches silver nanoparticles have a broad range of antimicrobial activity and these are capable of inhibiting the growth of both gram positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus mutans, and Staphylococcus epidermidis and gram negative bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E.coli, Syphilis typhus etc. [5-8].  

Silver’s antibacterial properties have been known for thousands of years, and silver nanoparticles offer superior antibacterial activity while being non-toxic to humans [9]. Due to larger surface area of Ag-NPs they provide better contact with bacterial cells and are capable of penetrating the bacterial cell membrane and interacting with bacterial DNA and inhibiting its growth.  Ag-NPs also lead to the generation of free radicals that can interact with enzymes or bio molecules of bacterial cells and destroy it [5]. 

Asian paints antibacterial technology: 

Asian paints is inspired by the same idea and has adopted the concept of developing a paint with anti-Bacterialproperties. The Asian paints antibacterial technology can protect our homes, offices, hospitals and other public buildings interior walls that are prone to bacterial growth due to environmental pollution and thus help to combat infectious diseases [10-11]. 

About 1.7 million hospitalized patients annually acquireHealth care-associated infections during their stay in hospitals after coming in contact with germs present in the surface [12]. It is important that hospitals adopt the use of Anti-Bacterialpaints to keep hospitals safer and cleaner.  Asian Paints Anti-Bacterial Paint – Royale Health Shield, inhibits or kills the bacteria thereby keeps the surfaces safe.

Asian Paints Royale Health Shield maintains a beautiful atmosphere in homes and offices with highly durable surfaces and are free from the wear and tear that occurs during the seasonal changes. Asian Paints Royale Health Shieldkills 99%^# infection causing bacteria on painted interior walls [13]. Asian paints Royale Health Shieldissuitable for any interior wall where controlling bacterial transmission is key like bathroom, food preparation areas, hospitals etc. Asian Paints Royale Health Shield, also has a luxurious sheen finish that gives a pleasant glow to the walls. It is available in more than 2000+ shades.

References

1. O’neill, J. I. M. (2014). Antimicrobial resistance: tackling a crisis for the health and wealth of nations. Rev. Antimicrob. Resist, 20, 1-16.
2. https://amrls.cvm.msu.edu/pharmacology/antimicrobials/antimicrobials-an-introduction
3. SperandioF,  HuangF.Y. Y., & Hamblin, M. (2013). Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy to kill Gram-negative bacteria. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery, 8(2), 108-120.
4. Laurent, S., Forge, D., Port, M., Roch, A., Robic, C., Vander Elst, L., & Muller, R. N. (2008). Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: synthesis, stabilization, vectorization, physicochemical characterizations, and biological applications. Chemical reviews, 108(6), 2064-2110.
5. Siddiqi, K. S., Husen, A., & Rao, R. A. (2018). A review on biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles and their biocidal properties. Journal of nanobiotechnology, 16(1), 14.
6. Li, W. R., Xie, X. B., Shi, Q. S., Duan, S. S., Ouyang, Y. S., & Chen, Y. B. (2011). Antibacterial effect of silver nanoparticles on Staphylococcus aureus. Biometals, 24(1), 135-141.
7. Liao, S., Zhang, Y., Pan, X., Zhu, F., Jiang, C., Liu, Q., ... & Chen, L. (2019). Antibacterial activity and mechanism of silver nanoparticles against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. International journal of nanomedicine, 14, 1469.
8. Tang, S., & Zheng, J. (2018). Antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles: structural effects. Advanced healthcare materials, 7(13), 1701503.
9. Tanwar, J., Sharma, M., Parmar, A., Tehri, N., Verma, N., Gahlaut, A., &Hooda, V. (2020). Antibacterial potential of silver nanoparticles against multidrug resistant bacterial isolates from blood cultures. Inorganic and Nano-Metal Chemistry, 1-7.
10. Scientists develop low-cost, “green? antimicrobial paint", (2008) Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, 55, 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2008.12855dad.005
11. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080122154351.htm
12. Haque, M., Sartelli, M., McKimm, J., & Bakar, M. A. (2018). Health care-associated infections–an overview. Infection and drug resistance, 11, 2321.
13. www.asianpaints.com

Disclaimer:

^#Royale Health Shield with Silver Ion technology, within 2 hours of exposure kills 99% bacteria on walls.

For complete disclaimer and more information, please visit www.asianpaints.com/healthshield

I acknowledge the support and contribution of Asian Paints Limited in providing information for this article. The purpose of this article is to explain the scientific principles behind anti-bacterial paints.

All product specific views expressed here are my personal views. Readers should do their own research & consult professionals before purchasing the product.

Products may not function as intended if they are not correctly used. Please also refer to product guides provided by companies before purchasing the product as your purchase and use of the product will be governed by them.

This article is Written by: Dr Pankaj Kumar Chauhan, Associate professor, Faculty of Life science, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, HP, India. Edited By: Dr Monuverma, Post Doc fellow, Department of Environmental Engineering, The University of Seoul, Seoul 130-743, Republic of Korea.