New copper surface eliminates bacteria in just two minutes

A new surface that kills bacteria more than 100 times faster and more effectively than standard copper could help combat the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

The new copper product is the result of a collaborative research project with RMIT University and Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, with findings just published in Biomaterials.

Copper has long been used to fight different strains of bacteria, including the commonly found golden staph, because the ions released from the metal’s surface are toxic to bacterial cells.

But this process is slow when standard copper is used, as RMIT University’s Distinguished Professor Ma Qian explained, and significant efforts are underway by researchers worldwide to speed it up.

“A standard copper surface will kill about 97% of golden staph within four hours,” Qian said.

“Incredibly, when we placed golden staph bacteria on our specially-designed copper surface, it destroyed more than 99.99% of the cells in just two minutes.”

“So not only is it more effective, it’s 120 times faster.”

Importantly, said Qian, these results were achieved without the assistance of any drug.

“Our copper structure has shown itself to be remarkably potent for such a common material,” he said.

Our copper structure has shown itself to be remarkably potent for such a common material.

– Professor Ma Qian

The team believes there could be a huge range of applications for the new material once further developed, including antimicrobial doorhandles and other touch surfaces in schools, hospitals, homes and public transport, as well as filters in antimicrobial respirators or air ventilation systems, and in face masks.

The team is now looking to investigate the enhanced copper’s effectiveness against SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, including assessing 3D-printed samples.

Other studies suggest copper may be highly effective against the virus, leading the US Environmental Protection Agency to officially approve copper surfaces for antiviral uses earlier this year.

The copper magnified 2,000 times under a scanning electron microscope shows its unique micro-comb structure.

Unique structure brings more copper to the fight

Former CSIRO researcher and study lead author, Dr Jackson Leigh Smith, said the copper’s unique porous structure was key to its effectiveness as a rapid bacteria killer.

A special copper mould casting process was used to make the alloy, arranging copper and manganese atoms into specific formations.

The manganese atoms were then removed from the alloy using a cheap and scalable chemical process called “dealloying”, leaving pure copper full of tiny microscale and nanoscale cavities in its surface.

The copper magnified 500,000 times under a scanning electron microscope shows the tiny nano-scale pores in the structure.

“Our copper is composed of comb-like microscale cavities and within each tooth of that comb structure are much smaller nanoscale cavities; it has a massive active surface area,” Smith said.

“The pattern also makes the surface super hydrophilic, or water-loving, so that water lies on it as a flat film rather than as droplets.”

“The hydrophilic effect means bacterial cells struggle to hold their form as they are stretched by the surface nanostructure, while the porous pattern allows copper ions to release faster.”

“These combined effects not only cause structural degradation of bacterial cells, making them more vulnerable to the poisonous copper ions, but also facilitates uptake of copper ions into the bacterial cells,” Smith said.

“It’s that combination of effects that results in greatly accelerated elimination of bacteria.”

Rapid destruction: images magnified 120,000 times under a scanning electron microscope show golden staph bacteria cells after two minutes on a) polished stainless steel, b) polished copper, and in c) and d), the team’s micro-nano copper surface.

Dr Daniel Liang of CSIRO said researchers across the world were looking to develop new medical materials and devices that could help reduce the rise of antibiotic-resistant super bugs by reducing the need for antibiotics.

“Drug-resistant infections are on the rise, and with limited new antibiotics coming onto the market, the development of materials resistant to bacteria will likely play an important role in helping address the problem,” Liang said.

“This new copper product offers a promising and affordable option to fighting superbugs, and is just one example of CSIRO’s work in helping to address the growing risk of antibiotic resistance.”

This study was initiated through an RMIT-CSIRO PhD program and was subsequently co-funded by the CASS Foundation Melbourne, Australia. The innovative process now has patents pending in the USA, China and Australia.

‘Robust bulk micro-nano hierarchical copper structures possessing exceptional bactericidal efficacy’ by Smith et al is published in Biomaterials (DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121271).

Story: Michael Quin

Health

13 December 2021

Return to RMIT News

Health

13 December 2021

Advanced Materials
Research
Engineering
Advanced Manufacturing
Science and technology

Engage

Contact RMIT News

Find an expert

Study with us

Research at RMIT

Related News

RMIT and Eurecat celebrate five years of impact in research and innovation

Since 2021, RMIT has partnered with Catalonia's leading technology centre on initiatives spanning doctoral training, industry engagement and collaborative research.

Tiny OLED pixels could soon be manufactured like microchips

Scientists have created a light-sensitive material that can produce tiny, coloured light-emitting pixels, an advance that could enable sharper miniature screens and light-powered medical technologies.

Invention may bring smart bionic eye in sight

A working prototype that can see, remember and interact with the world like the human brain could one day underpin smart bionic eyes, while using far less energy than today's technologies.

Magnetic invention removes ‘invisible’ microplastics plus some PFAS

RMIT University researchers have developed a water treatment material that rapidly removes micro and nano plastics and some PFAS, bringing the technology closer to real world use.

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information

New copper surface eliminates bacteria in just two minutes