University of Tartu is adopting experience of creating antibacterial surfaces

The University of Tartu is advancing its research on antibacterial surfaces through the European Commission-funded Twinning project, FAST-Real ("Twinning on Functional Antimicrobial Surfaces Testing and Evaluation for Real-world Performance and Sustainability"). 

The Microbe and Material Research Group at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology and the Laboratory of X-ray Spectroscopy at the Institute of Physics in collaboration with partners from Finland, Germany and Switzerland are complementing their current experience on light-activated antimicrobial materials and surfaces. 

In response to the escalating public health threat posed by microbial infections and antibiotic-resistant pathogens, the FAST-Real project is developing and testing surfaces that use light activation to combat microbial contamination. Such surfaces are activated only upon exposure to visible light, enabling them to neutralize microbes on contact without releasing potentially harmful substances. This technology holds promise for high-touch environments like healthcare facilities, public spaces, and the food industry.

The head of the project is Dr Angela Ivask from the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the University of Tartu, who has been active in antimicrobial material-related research already for more than ten years. The international partners are: the University of Oulu from Finland, where the research group led by Dr Wei Cao has vast experience in visible light activated semiconductor materials; the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technologies, where Research group led by Dr Qun Ren is engaged in research on the effectiveness of the use of antibacterial agents and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and testing in Berlin with the research group of Dr Frank Schreiber renowned for its research on antibacterial resistance and contributions to ISO standards in the field.

In addition to strengthening the University of Tartu's research capacity in antimicrobial materials, FAST-Real emphasizes career development for young scientists and students, while enhancing the university’s grant success rate, management skills, and innovation transfer capabilities.

The FAST-Real project launched on September 1, 2024, with an online kick-off meeting held on September 12, marking the start of collaborative efforts to advance research in functional antimicrobial surfaces.

The project is funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the widening participation and spreading excellence activities (Grant Agreement No 101159721).