Antibacterial coatings: current applications and its future prospects

Abstract

Antibacterial coatings are surface coatings with the potential to kill or inhibit bacterial growth. Concerns over the excessive use of disinfectants, mostly owing to cost and environmental impact, and the advent of an increasing number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains have shifted the focus toward antibacterial coatings. Antibacterial coatings find their application in a variety of fields, including healthcare, food packaging, textiles, water purification, and manufacturing. New interventions in the field of antibacterial coatings include strategies such as controlled release, multipronged approaches, the development of multiproperty coatings, and multirelease coatings. The inability to provide sufficient stimuli in some contexts and the complexity of developing coatings to regulate the antibacterial activity or preserve long-term efficacy are some of the challenges that must be surmounted before these ideas can be implemented in the real world. The purpose of this chapter is to explore recent improvements in antibacterial tactics, as well as smart antibacterial coatings with long-term stability, including their future problems and potential. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.