Photo: University of New Hampshire

Researchers at the University of Windsor are using the Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan to create a new line of defense against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Dr. Ronnie Banerjee says he and his team are developing a solution that utilizes the natural germicide properties of copper to coat surfaces with a solid layer and leave them pathogen-free for longer than conventional bleach-based cleaning products. Banerjee says while bleach and soap weaken over time and must be re-applied, one component of his solution makes holes in the bacteria’s cell wall, while the other enters the cell and implodes it from the inside out.

Banerjee says the Canadian Light Source at USask was integral in developing the product, as it allowed the team to study slow payload release, releasing of copper ions, and what happens to the copper as it sits in the coating material. He will continue to utilize the CLS as the product’s development continues. USask is where Banerjee received his PhD, and he says it was nice to come back to a place where he has already done so much research.

He adds that the second version of the formula is in the works right now, and ideally, he hopes to make it into an inexpensive and accessible commercial product in the future.