Five years ago, antimicrobial coatings were laboratory curiosities interesting chemistry with no clear path to commercialisation or market adoption. COVID-19 changed everything. Suddenly, surfaces that could actively kill bacteria and viruses became intensely desirable. Antimicrobial coatings rapidly transitioned from research to commercialisation.
Today, antimicrobial coatings are being commercialised for hospitals, commercial kitchens, public transit vehicles, and high-touch surfaces. The technology typically involves copper or zinc compounds embedded in coating matrices, controlled release mechanisms that gradually activate antimicrobial properties over extended periods, and durability sufficient for years of continuous protection.
Self-healing coatings are advancing along a similar trajectory — microscopic capsules embedded in coating matrix contain both antimicrobial effectiveness and viruses. Indian research institutions including IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and University of Pune are actively developing smart coating technologies. Government research funding supports scale-up research attempting to transition laboratory formulations into industrial production.
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