A new surface-coating technology developed at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden could offer healthcare estates teams a new tool in the fight against hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).
The researchers have demonstrated a novel use for metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) – the class of materials awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry – to create mechanically antibacterial surfaces. Rather than relying on antibiotics, silver or other biocidal agents, the coating works by forming microscopic ‘nanotips’ that physically puncture and kill bacteria on contact, before biofilms can form.
Biofilms are a major concern in healthcare environments, particularly on catheters, implants, pipework and medical devices, where once established they are extremely difficult to remove and contribute significantly to infection risk, system degradation and long-term maintenance costs. By preventing bacterial attachment at the outset, the MOF coating could reduce both clinical risk and cleaning and replacement burdens.
The coating is created by growing one MOF structure on top of another to form sharp, tightly spaced nanotips. These tips rupture the bacterial cell wall on contact.
The research team found the spacing between the nanotips had to be carefully engineered: too wide and bacteria can settle – too close and the mechanical killing effect is reduced.
For the healthcare sector, one of the most significant advantages is manufacturability. Unlike some advanced antimicrobial surfaces, the MOF coatings can be produced at relatively low temperatures, enabling them to be applied to temperature-sensitive materials such as plastics used in medical devices and components. The organic polymers used in MOFs can also be derived from recycled plastics, supporting circular-economy objectives.
As the technology does not rely on toxic metals or antimicrobial chemicals, it also avoids the risk of contributing to antibiotic resistance, a growing concern for infection prevention teams globally.
While the research is still at the laboratory stage, it points to potential future applications across:
- Medical devices and implants.
- High-risk clinical surfaces.
- Moist environments prone to biofilm formation.
- Pipework, drainage and water systems.
The study, ‘Mechano-Bactericidal Surfaces Achieved by Epitaxial Growth of Metal-Organic Frameworks’, has been published in Advanced Science and was carried out by researchers from Chalmers’ Departments of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Sciences.
For healthcare estates and FM professionals, the work signals a possible future shift towards passive, long-life antimicrobial surfaces that reduce reliance on chemicals, improve infection resilience, and lower lifecycle maintenance risk.
IMAGE CAPTION: A scanning electron microscopy image of the MOF-on-MOF surface with sharp nanotips killing the bacteria. The image was taken in Myfab's cleanroom at Chalmers University of Technology. Parts of the image have been coloured.
