FiberLean Technologies and The University of Birmingham developed a cellulose coating that protects against bacteria. This coating can be applied to metal, glass, or laminate surfaces, protecting against COVID-19 and E. Coli bacteria. The coating consists of a thin cellulose fiber film, ideal for high traffic objects such as handrails and doorknobs. 
 
Teams from the University of Birmingham, Cambridge University and FiberLean Technologies developed this coating with Professor Zhenyu Jason Zhang from the University of Birmingham School of Chemical Engineering leading the project. 
 
Researchers found a way to dry out virus containing respiratory droplets. They found that the porous nature of the film “accelerates the evaporation rate of liquid droplets, and introduces an imbalanced osmotic pressure across bacteria membrane.”
 
The studies they conducted found a three-fold reduction in SARS- CoV-2 infected droplets after contact with the coating for five minutes. The infectivity fell to zero after ten minutes, according to the report. Researchers tested the coating against SARS- CoV-2 on glass surfaces and found initial infectivity was maintained after ten minutes. After 1 hour and 24 hours researchers saw substantial reduction in infectivity in bacteria containing (E.Coli and S.epidermidis) droplets. 
 
Mechanical scraping tests confirmed the stability of the coating. These is no noticeable damage when dry, and is easily removed when wetted, creating a suitable disinfectant for daily cleaning.