Nanotechnology (Commonwealth Union) – Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to be a serious challenge in the healthcare industry, hence the need for innovative solutions remains crucial.
The breakthrough nanostructure has been shown to be 230 times better than a widely used anti-bacterial compound and could open the door for durable self-sanitizing surfaces in busy public places.
AMR is considered one of the biggest threats to global health, but researchers at the University of Calgary have developed an innovative additive that greatly enhances the ability to kill bacteria on surfaces, with a 230-times stronger anti-bacterial effect.
Dr. Mehdi Mohammadi Ashani, PhD, from the Department of Biological Sciences. He is part of a research team developing Tri-Filler, an advanced additive created through a collaboration between the Schulich School of Engineering, Biosenta Inc., and the Alberta Centre for Advanced Diagnostics (ACAD) within the Faculty of Science. Dr. Ashani indicated that we can picture a surface coating that is both antibacterial and capable of cleaning itself. Such technology could greatly reduce the spread of infectious pathogens and help create safer environments.
The research builds on earlier efforts to introduce long-lasting antibacterial protection into high-traffic settings. The project is led by Dr. Maen Husein, PhD, professor in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, and aims to develop materials that can help reduce bacterial transmission in everyday environments.
The researchers say the material has potential applications in concrete, paints and protective surface coatings, particularly in high-touch settings where maintaining hygiene is essential. These could include public transport systems, healthcare facilities, schools and childcare centres.
According to Dr. Noora Darwish, PhD’25, a visiting professor and former graduate researcher at Schulich, Tri-Filler is made from food-grade ingredients, providing a safer option compared with stronger chemical disinfectants. The material is engineered to produce surfaces that can continuously limit microbial survival over extended periods, rather than offering protection only when initially applied.
Tri-Filler’s antibacterial capability comes from its unique structure, where calcium hydroxide — the active antimicrobial ingredient — is enclosed within a calcium carbonate shell to form a specially designed core–shell system. This approach greatly improves its bacteria-fighting performance compared with calcium hydroxide alone, which is already widely used as an antibacterial agent.
To evaluate the material’s effectiveness, Schulich postdoctoral researcher Dr. Reza Lashkari, PhD, MSc’25, integrated Tri-Filler into coating and flooring samples. Mohammadi Ashani then developed and managed the antibacterial experiments, exposing the treated surfaces to bacteria under test conditions designed to mimic real-world contamination scenarios.
Mohammadi Ashani’s research showed that Tri-Filler was over 200 times more effective at eliminating bacteria than calcium hydroxide, a widely used antimicrobial compound. The findings demonstrate the material’s potential for application in frequently touched surfaces and environments where hygiene is a priority.
Lashkari, who is also affiliated with the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering indicated that as a result of it providing a controlled release of calcium hydroxide, they can adjust its effectiveness depending on the specific application.
Early experiments indicate that Tri-Filler may also deliver long-lasting antibacterial performance. When the particles were exposed to extreme conditions, including high temperatures and humidity, for more than 12 months, they preserved their structure and continued to exhibit antibacterial activity.
Looking ahead although additional research and testing are still being carried out, the technology is already moving closer to commercial use through a collaboration with Biosenta Inc. The company is providing technical expertise and commercialization support to help transform the research into a market-ready hygiene solution, as indicated by Mohammadi Ashani, who is also a senior scientist at the company.
“I’ve been working with Biosenta over the past several years to help advance this technology toward commercialization,” explained Mohammadi Ashani. “This includes a focus on validation strategy, generating evidence in real conditions and de-risking the technology to evaluate product performance, ensuring regulatory standards are met and customers can be confident with their investment.”
