Gravure printed antimicrobial wallcovering coatings for pathogen reduction

Abstract Environmental surfaces are critical vectors for pathogen transmission, especially in high-touch indoor environments such as healthcare, education, hospitality, and transportation facilities. Conventional cleaning and disinfection strategies for wallcoverings leave intervals of vulnerability, while existing antimicrobial coatings often rely on silver or quaternary ammonium chemistries that has sustainability, durability, and regulatory limitations. This study presents evaluation of a gravure printed antimicrobial wallcovering coating manufactured at industrial scale incorporating a water-based acrylic matrix with a zinc-based dry-film preservative under standardized test conditions. The laboratory testing following ISO 22196 and ISO 21702 protocols demonstrated up to a 2.94-log (99.8%) reduction of Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and 98% reduction of Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ), as well as antiviral activity against human coronavirus OC43. The system achieved antimicrobial efficacy without silver, formaldehyde donors, or halogenated compounds, aligning with indoor air quality and environmental safety requirements. No study specifically investigates antimicrobial coatings applied to wallpaper that reduce E. coli , S. aureus , and human coronavirus OC43 while also testing efficacy using both ISO 21702:2019 (antiviral) and ISO 22196:2011 (antibacterial) standards. To date, no published work has specifically examined antimicrobial coatings applied to wallpaper that simultaneously reduce E. coli, S. aureus , and human coronavirus OC43 while being evaluated under both the antiviral and antibacterial standards. Graphical abstract