
Hadas Mamane (TAU) & Kimberly Gray (NU)
Title: “Anti-COVID-19 high-touch surfaces using photocatalytic transparent films"
The goal of this collaboration between the laboratories of Professors Kimberly Gray at Northwestern (McCormick) and Hadas Mamane at Tel Aviv University (Engineering) is to develop biocidal thin films that will disrupt the transmission of coronavirus and other pathogens on high- touch surfaces (e.g. instrument touch-screens) common in clinical or commercial settings. In Gray’s lab, photocatalytic nanocomposite thin films will be synthesized and characterized for robust and durable disinfection. In Mamane’s lab, the performance of select thin films will then be tested for viral and bacterial inactivation under a variety of conditions. We believe that integrating the expertise of Gray and Mamane with the support of this seed grant will lead to effective solutions that will achieve disruption of infectious vectors on surfaces and lead to novel product development.