http://www.surfacesolutionsgroup.com | What is anti-microbial coating and why is it so beneficial for the medical community? Find out some advantages of this medical coating and what it’s commonly made of.

1. The Benefits of Anti-Microbial Medical Coatings
Anti-microbial medical coating can be used in a variety of industries and even in the home, but it’s
mainly used on medical devices since they are most likely to pass on viruses and diseases to vulnerable
people. The purpose of anti-microbial coatings is to reduce the ability of microorganisms to grow and
thereby prevent the spread of disease. Not every medical device can have a microbial coating however,
but most medical devices that are commonly used in public and private health facilities can receive the
coating. Anti-microbial coatings can be made from a few different substances.
Silver
Silver has natural anti-microbial properties that make it ideal for anti-microbial medical coatings.
However, the reasons why silver is so effective are not entirely known. What scientists do know is that it
naturally fights bacteria by destroying microorganisms which makes it very valuable. In order to use
silver as an anti-microbial coating, scientists have started to use nanoparticulate particles of silver in
lubricated, biocompatible coatings on medical devices of various kinds including:
● Catheters
● Needles
● Surgical tools
● Medical tubing
Copper is another natural anti-microbial metal, but silver is more commonly used. However, some
studies indicate that a 50/50 mixture of silver and copper would create the perfect antimicrobial
medical coating while minimizing cytotoxicity.
Polymers
Many anti-microbial medical coatings are made for medical surfaces and equipment, but sometimes the
coatings are not made for both hard surfaces and flexible ones. Some compounds contain silver and
lubrication which makes it suitable for hard surfaces and things like medical tubing, but for equipment
designed to interact with bodily fluids, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating should be used. These
polymer coatings should be used because equipment designed to come into contact with bodily fluids
has to resist swelling in order to make the patient comfortable and prevent complications.
For example, a catheter with an anti-microbial coating must have a hydrophilic coating. This means it
must have a pre-lubricated polymer coating that allows water to bond with the device in order to make
the catheter smoother and slicker so that it causes the patient less discomfort.
Other Benefits of Medical Coatings
Besides creating a more sterile environment that resists the growth of microorganisms, medical coatings
also create less friction, which can make patients more comfortable. Traditional silicone coatings are
prone to friction, but when they’re replaced with devices coated in different polymer anti-microbial
compounds, they reduce the coefficient of friction by at least half. Raw liquid silicone is also prone to
picking up surface dust and is has no natural anti-microbial properties. By replacing silicone with other
types of medical coatings, hospitals and other private medical facilities can reduce the spread of
infection and disease and offer their patients a higher level of comfort.
PTFE coatings can be applied to nearly every surface and medical device and is suitable for flexible
materials, metal surfaces, and even glass. The coatings are very thin and durable and can even help
protect against accidents like broken glass since the coating prevents beakers, columns, flasks, and bulbs

2. from shattering. Most hospitals are now required to use anti-microbial medical coating because the
obvious benefits help reduce hospital induced illnesses and the spread of disease.
About Surface Solutions Group
Surface Solutions Group, LLC was founded specifically to develop and apply coatings for the medical
industry. Their team consists of chemists, engineers, technicians, and executives with a minimum of 10
years of functional coating application experience. Surface Solutions Group has a completely new facility
designed and constructed with seamless, anti-microbial floors, walls, ceilings, and ultra-filtered air. The
facility is designed and constructed as a "green facility" incorporating final ultra-filtration of all the
exhaust air leaving the building with the lowest possible carbon footprint.
Document Summary: What is anti-microbial coating and why is it so beneficial for the medical
community? Find out some advantages of this medical coating and what it’s commonly made of.
Tags: medical coatings, medical coating, PTFE coating, PTFE coatings, hydrophilic coating