Antimicrobial sol–gel coating: a review

Abstract

Applying a chemical substance known as an antimicrobial coating kills pathogenic microorganisms such as fungi, yeasts, bacteria, and molds, and inactivation of viruses. Since some conventional coatings may require high temperatures but sol–gel coating can be completed at low temperatures, it is an easy coating technique for adding antimicrobials to polymeric surfaces. Various antimicrobial compounds used in sol–gel coating preparation have two categories: 1) Chemical compounds such as TiO₂, Ag, ZnO, CaO, Si, MgO, Au nanoparticles and boron nitride, biocides, hydroxyapatite, and 2) natural compounds such as bioactive liquids and curcumin. Antimicrobial compounds act as a mechanism for forming the reactive oxygen species (ROS), reducing the potential of DNA to duplicate itself, and tRNA interaction with the ribosome is suppressed, disrupting antimicrobial enzyme activity, releasing of ions, preventing bacterial adhesion, and modulation of microbial gene expression. Antimicrobial sol–gel coatings can be applied to the film substrate by dipping, spraying, or spinning processing before gelation. Numerous uses, including textiles, biomedical applications, packaging, glass substrates, metals like silver, copper, zinc, and nickel, and the avoidance of biofilm development, have made application of antimicrobial sol–gel films. Nonetheless, it is frequently utilized in the textile sector to stop microbiological contamination, shield biofouling, and lessen perspiration odor. This paper presents and discusses the various antimicrobial compounds with their antimicrobial mechanism and various applications of coatings obtained from sol–gel.

Graphical abstract