Recent developments in antimicrobial surface coatings: Various deposition techniques with nanosized particles, their application and environmental concerns

The recent development of nanotechnology has given rise to many potent applications, including control and eradication of pathogenic microorganisms. The most promising of those methods seems to be the development of surface coatings containing various nanoparticles and exhibiting antimicrobial properties. This method allows to reduce or even eliminate the possible microbiological threat without the need for continuous surface disinfection, thermal treatment or the use of various novel, non-thermal treatments. In this review, deposition techniques, mechanisms of actions for different nanoparticles, as well as potential applications and environmental concerns are described. Nine deposition techniques have been identified with regard to novel antimicrobial coatings containing nanoparticles, including techniques of thermal evaporation, vacuum arc, pulsed laser deposition, sol-gel, chemical vapor deposition, sputtering, thermal as well as electro spray and electrochemical deposition. Besides, mechanisms of antimicrobial action are described considering various nanoparticles, i.e. the well-established antibacterial mechanism of most commonly used nanoparticles, the current state of knowledge related to their antifungal properties and the antiviral mechanism of Ag nanoparticles. Moreover, the review identified the potential industry fields in which such coatings can be applied, including food packaging, food contact surfaces, water treatment, biomedical applications and the textile industry. Finally, current knowledge gaps and fields for future research are identified, which include establishing antiviral mechanisms of action and effectiveness of various nanoparticles. Various environmental research regarding the accumulation of nanoparticles in the environment, with their uptake as well as effect on growth and development of plants and animal is also needed. •Review of the developments in the nanoparticle antimicrobial coatings.•Nine different deposition techniques of surface coatings are summarised.•Mechanisms of antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral actions is provided.•Recent industrial applications of nanoparticle surface coatings are reviewed.•Besides antimicrobial action, the coatings also raise environmental concerns.