Antimicrobial Surfaces for Applications on Confined Inhabited Space Stations

An overview of the current surface treatments/coatings that introduce antimicrobial properties to the exposed surfaces in confined space stations is provided. General aspects, such as biofilm formation and the specific requirements associated with this application, are discussed. Antimicrobial coatings used on the International Space Station (ISS) are reviewed. A selection of commercial and developed coatings targeting space applications is presented. Also, some developments that can be used in the space industry are highlighted. A review of antimicrobial coatings and surfaces for space applications is presented, including organic, inorganic, hybrid coatings, and both commercial solutions and solutions under development are provided. For applications on confined space stations, these coatings have to withstand a high humidity and higher CO2 content in the atmosphere for a number of years, as well as mechanical stress and chemical/particulate contamination.