The Antimicrobial Scientific Paper Behind SWIFF
The antimicrobial science behind SWIFF is officially published after peer-review!
This paper on antimicrobial and anti-odor coatings attracted interest from over 200 news sources in 10+ languages.
Our paper is open access, which means it is free to read here: (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-05553-9m)
But if you want an easier read, check out the official scientific press release put out by the University of Tokyo, and below that is a list of some of the links to other news articles on our science:
DESPITE THEIR ABILITY TO NEUTRALIZE PATHOGENS, POLYPHENOLS AND SILVER ARE CONSIDERED TO BE EXTREMELY SAFE. POLYPHENOLS ARE IN MANY KINDS OF FOODS CONSUMED DAILY, AND SILVER DOES NOT INTERACT WITH THE HUMAN BODY. SO AG/TA COATING COULD BE DONE BY ANYONE, NOT JUST IN TIGHTLY CONTROLLED INDUSTRIAL SETTINGS
For the first time, researchers have found a cost-effective and convenient way to apply a silver-based antimicrobial clear coating to new or existing textiles. Their method uses polyphenols, commonly found in food items notorious for staining clothes such as wine and chocolate. A range of textile types can be treated by the researchers’ method, and items can be washed multiple times without losing the antimicrobial and therefore anti-odor property.
It may be winter for half the world right now, but before too long the warm weather will return, bringing with it beach trips, ice cream, insect bites, and of course, sweat. There are many kinds of products that can be worn or applied to the body which aim to reduce body odor, but these often come with a compromise such as expense, breathability, limited choice, or something else. Some of these make use of silver, which is well known for its antimicrobial properties, but can be difficult to apply to things like clothes in an easy and efficient way.
A team led by researchers from the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Engineering has pioneered a way to apply an antimicrobial silver coating to textiles that is cost effective, simple and has some useful implications too. They essentially used a compound known as a polyphenol, tannic acid (TA) specifically, to bind silver (Ag) to fabrics. Polyphenols are found in chocolate and red wine amongst other things, and are responsible for their infamous ability to stain clothing and tablecloths. Fortunately, the researchers’ coating, called Ag/TA, is completely clear so it doesn’t discolor textiles, but best of all, it can survive being washed.
“As kids often do, my son stained his shirt with chocolate one day, and I couldn’t scrub it out,” said postdoctoral fellow Joseph Richardson. “Associate Professor Hirotaka Ejima and I have studied polyphenols for over a decade, but this chocolate incident got me thinking about using tannic acid to bind silver to fabrics. We think we’ve found two methods to apply our antimicrobial silver coating to textiles, suitable for different use cases.”
The first method might be useful for commercial clothing or fabric producers. Textiles can simply be bathed in a mixture of the silver compound and the polyphenol binder. Another method, perhaps more suited to small-scale settings, including the home, is to spray items of clothing, first with the silver compound and then with the polyphenol binder. An obvious advantage is that people can add the coating to existing items of clothing.
“But what’s most exciting is not the ease of application, but how effective the coating is,” said Richardson. “We wanted to study the effect of the antimicrobial coating not just on odor-causing bacteria, but also on fungi and pathogens like viruses. With so many variables to control, it was a challenge of time and complexity to test variations of compounds against variations of microorganisms. But through carefully optimizing our testing methods, we found that the coating neutralizes everything we tested it on. So Ag/TA could be useful in hospitals and other ideally sterile environments.”
The binding power of TA is so strong that coated textiles tested by the researchers like cotton, polyester and even silk, maintain antimicrobial and anti-odor properties for at least 10 washes.
“This isn’t just a hypothetical situation limited to the lab, I’ve tried it on my own shirts, socks, shoes, even my bathmat,” said Richardson. “We’d like to see what other useful compounds polyphenols might help bind to fabrics. Antimicrobial silver might just be the start.”
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Journal article
Joseph J. Richardson, Wenting Liao, Jincai Li, Bohan Cheng, Chenyu Wang, Taku Maruyama, Blaise L. Tardy, Junling Guo, Lingyun Zhao, Wanping Aw, Hirotaka Ejima, “Rapid Assembly of Colorless Antimicrobial and Anti-Odor Coatings from Polyphenols and Silver”, Scientific Reports, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05553-9, Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-05553-9
List of other news articles on this scientific breakthrough:
- New Antimicrobial, Anti-Odor Coating for Clothing and Textiles (scitechdaily.com)
- Anti-odor coating is no washout | The University of Tokyo (u-tokyo.ac.jp)
- New way to apply a silver-based antimicrobial clear coating to textiles - Tech Explorist
- Anti-odor coating is no washout | The National Tribune
- Anti-odor coating is no washout | EurekAlert!
- Anti-odor coating is no washout – BIOENGINEER.ORG - (fimdeboka.com)
- Anti-odor coating is no washout – BIOENGINEER.ORG - (webxharbor.com)
- Anti-odor coating is no washout – BIOENGINEER.ORG - (eksitwit.com)
- Anti-odor coating is no washout – BIOENGINEER.ORG - (dominiouruguay.com)
- Anti-odor coating is no washout – BIOENGINEER.ORG - (borakey.com)
- Anti-odor coating is no washout – BIOENGINEER.ORG - (sibaritv.com)
- Anti-odor coating is no washout – BIOENGINEER.ORG - (semergenclm.com)
- 研究人员发明用于服装和纺织品的新型抗菌、防臭涂料 - 科学探索 - cnBeta.COM (CHINESE)
- Tannic acid utilized to "stain" odor-eliminating silver onto clothing (newatlas.com)
- Scientists develop an anti-microbial lining to eliminate body odour | Daily Mail Online
- Anti-odor coating is no washout: Silver and chemicals found in wine and chocolate used to create antimicrobial textile coating -- ScienceDaily
- it does not fall even if i wash it! development of antimicrobial and antiviral coatings made of highly adhesive polyphenols (u-tokyo.ac.jp)
- the university of tokyo develops polyphenol antibacterial coatings that are hard to fall off even after washing | nikkan kogyo shimbun electronic edition
- 东京大学研究人员发明用于服装和纺织品的新型抗菌防臭涂料 - 字节点击 (byteclicks.com) (Chinese)
- Silver and chemicals found in wine and chocolate used to create antimicrobial textile coating (phys.org)
- Scientists Develop An Anti-microbial Lining To Eliminate Body Odour - Todayuknews
- New way to apply a silver-based antimicrobial clear coating to textiles - Tech Explorist
- Silver and chemicals found in wine and chocolate used to create antimicrobial textile coating -- Science & Technology -- Sott.net
- Scientists develop an anti-microbial lining to eliminate body odour | EXPRESS INFORMER
- Researchers tinker with antimicrobial application methods (tevonews.com)
- Anti-odor coating is no washout | Mirage News
- ttps://granthshala.com/say-goodbye-to-bo-scientists-develop-an-anti-microbial-lining-from-silver-and-chemicals-found-in-wine-and-chocolate-that-eliminates-body-odour/
- Natural Anti-Odor Research: Binding Silver with Chocolate Ingredients (orbitinside.com)
- https://tabbed.info/science/details/10341/Silver-and-chemicals-found-in-wine-and-chocolate-used-to-create-antimicrobial-textile-coating
- Anti-odor coating is no washout: Silver and chemicals found in wine and chocolate used to create antimicrobial textile coating - TechiAI
- https://articlesupdate.com/fresh-formula-to-apply-a-silver-essentially-based-antimicrobial-clear-coating-to-textiles/
- Scientists develop an anti-bacterial lining to deodorize body - WSTPost
- Silver and chemicals found in wine and chocolate used to create antimicrobial textile coating - My Droll
- New way to apply a silver-based antimicrobial clear coating to textiles (knowledia.com)
- University of Tokyo: Anti-odor coating is no washout – India Education | Latest Education News | Global Educational News | Recent Educational News (indiaeducationdiary.in)
- Klamotten: Beschichtung gegen Schweißgestank (pressetext.com) (GERMAN)
- 洗濯しても落ちない!高付着性ポリフェノールからなる抗菌・抗ウイルス性コーティングを開発 (u-tokyo.ac.jp) (JAPANESE)
- 東大、ポリフェノール抗菌コーティング開発 洗濯しても落ちにくい | 日刊工業新聞 電子版 (nikkan.co.jp) (JAPANESE)
- Anti-odor coating is no washout - NFL (prelex.co.uk)
- Scientists develop an anti-microbial lining to eliminate body odour (allhealthyinfo.com)
- Tannic acid utilized to "stain" odor-eliminating silver onto clothing - Quick Telecast
- Japan: Scientists develop an anti-microbial lining that eliminates body odor. The old thing about deodorant! This special thing will give freedom from the smell of sweat - Wings Daily News
- Anti-odor coating is no washout - Opera News (dailyadvent.com)
- Silver and chemicals found in wine and chocolate used to create antimicrobial textile coating | Flipboard
- Tannic acid utilized to "stain" odor-eliminating silver onto clothing | Flipboard
- Silver and chemicals found in wine and chocolate used to create antimicrobial textile coating - ScienceDaily - Verve times
- New approach to applying silver-based antimicrobial clear coatings to textiles - Futechie.com
- New Antimicrobial, Anti-Odor Coating for Clothes and Textiles – OkUniQue
- Tannic acid utilized to "stain" odor-eliminating silver onto clothing - Global Circulate
- New Antimicrobial, Anti-Odor Coating for Clothes and Textiles - The Times Of Truth
- Anti-odor coating is no washout: Silver and chemicals found in wine and chocolate used to create antimicrobial textile coating Funny Canny %
- Silver and chemicals found in wine and chocolate used to create antimicrobial textile coating - Gamers Grade
- New Antimicrobial, Anti-Odor Coating for Clothing and Textiles – The Hamden Journal
- Anti-odor Coating Is No Washout - SCIENMAG: Latest Science And Health News
- THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO DEVELOPS A HIGHLY ADHESIVE ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIVIRAL COATING THAT DOES NOT FALL OFF EVEN AFTER WASHING| TECH+ (mynavi.jp) (JAPANESE)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor - Study Finds
- Silver And Chemical Compounds Present In Wine And Chocolate Used To Create Antimicrobial Textile Coating - Sahyadri Media
- Silver and chemicals found in wine and chocolate used to create antimicrobial textile coating - Samachar Central
- Tannic acid utilized to “stain” odor-eliminating silver onto clothes – WeWEAT
- https://scivtech.com/science/new-antimicrobial-anti-odor-coating-for-clothing-and-textiles/
- https://pakkikhabar.in/scientists-develop-an-anti-microbial-lining-to-eliminate-body-odour/
- https://getarticlestoday.com/scientists-develop-an-anti-microbial-lining-to-eliminate-body-odor/science/
- https://usnewsmail.com/tech/new-antimicrobial-anti-odor-coating-for-clothing-and-textiles/
- https://teknosenin.com/new-antimicrobial-anti-odor-coating-for-clothing-and-textiles/
- https://www.nzuchitimes.co/scientists-develop-an-anti-microbial-lining-to-eliminate-body-odour/
- https://www.universalpersonality.com/scientists-develop-an-anti-microbial-lining-to-eliminate-body-odour/
- https://bigworldtale.com/science/scientists-develop-an-anti-microbial-lining-to-eliminate-body-odour/
- https://whatismushrooms.com/plant_medicine/silver-and-chemical-compounds-present-in-wine-and-chocolate-used-to-create-antimicrobial-textile-coating-sciencedaily/
- https://simplycommodities.com/silver-and-chemicals-found-in-wine-and-chocolate-used-to-create-antimicrobial-textile-coating-sciencedaily/
- https://www.biologyi.com/2022/02/silver-and-chemicals-found-in-wine-and-chocolate-used-to-create-antimicrobial-textile-coating-sciencedaily.html
- https://www.sansdx.com/2022/02/08/new-antimicrobial-anti-odor-coating-for-clothing-and-textiles/
- https://vnexplorer.net/?#silver-and-chemicals-found-in-wine-and-chocolate-used-to-create-antimicrobial-textile-coating-s67102.html
- https://thefactist.com/2022/02/08/anti-odor-coating-is-no-washout-silver-and-chemicals-found-in-wine-and-chocolate-used-to-create-antimicrobial-textile-coating/
- https://mindzilla.com/newsroom/science/material-science/51814/20220208-silver-and-chemicals-found-in-wine-and-chocolate-used-to-create-antimicrobial-textile-coating/
- https://reentex.com/?p=40934
- https://soylentnews.org/submit.pl?op=viewsub&subid=53736
- https://thescotfree.com/scitech/new-way-to-apply-a-silver-based-antimicrobial-clear-coating-to-textiles/
- https://timesofisraelfinancial.com/unusual-manner-to-apply-a-silver-primarily-based-fully-mostly-antimicrobial-sure-coating-to-textiles/
- https://www.academicgates.com/news/story/anti-odor-coating-is-no-washout/10109
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220208085003.htm
- https://allyoucanfind.info/anti-odor-coating-is-no-washout-65377.html
- https://biznewspost.com/tech/new-antimicrobial-anti-odor-coating-for-clothing-and-textiles/
- https://countryask.com/tech/new-antimicrobial-anti-odor-coating-for-clothing-and-textiles/
- https://www.sciencegate.app/document/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1026440/v1
- https://aibiotechnology.com/anti-odor-coating-is-no-washout/
- https://timesnewsuk.com/science/scientists-develop-an-anti-microbial-lining-to-eliminate-body-odour/
- https://theworldnews.net/uk-news/scientists-develop-an-anti-microbial-lining-to-eliminate-body-odour
- https://www.starnews9.com/new-antimicrobial-anti-odor-coating-for-clothing-and-textiles/
- https://sibaritv.com/new-antimicrobial-anti-odor-coating-for-clothing-and-textiles/
- https://daytonews.com/2022/02/08/scientists-develop-an-anti-microbial-lining-to-eliminate-body-odour/
- https://newspotng.com/new-antimicrobial-anti-odor-coating-for-clothing-and-textiles/
- https://hitech.global/11228/
- https://kazanas.com/anti-odor-coating-is-no-washout/
- https://sciencescafe.com/anti-odor-coating-is-no-washout/
- https://www.louisvuitton-outlet.org/2022/02/08/anti-odor-coating-is-no-washout/
- https://protegete.cl/2022/02/08/anti-odor-coating-is-no-washout/
- https://www.pololacostepaschers.fr/2022/02/08/anti-odor-coating-is-no-washout/
- https://swimmarketplace.com.au/blog/index.php/2022/02/08/new-antimicrobial-anti-odor-coating-for-clothing-and-textiles/
- https://newsbrig.com/new-antimicrobial-anti-odor-coating-for-clothing-and-textiles/627111/
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/scientists-develop-an-anti-microbial-lining-to-eliminate-body-odour/ar-AATCgIx?ocid=BingNewsSearch
- https://www.sott.net/article/464227-Silver-and-chemicals-found-in-wine-and-chocolate-used-to-create-antimicrobial-textile-coating
- Rapid assembly of colorless antimicrobial and anti-odor coatings from polyphenols and silver - NewsBreak
- Japanese researchers find latest antimicrobial clear coating - TechnicalTextile.net
- Research Study Finds New Way to Apply Anti-Odor Coating to Textiles – Sourcing Journal
- Silver Plus Chemicals Create Antimicrobial Textile Coating | Wearable Technology Insights
- Antimicrobial silver coating created for textiles (labonline.com.au)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | WRBL
- Scientists develop an anti-microbial lining to eliminate body odour - Vigour Times
- New Antimicrobial, Anti-Odor Coating for Clothing and Textiles (ehtrend.com.br)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor (wearecentralpa.com)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor news - The Black Chronicle Body, Chemicals, Chocolate, coating, Create, Destroys, Odor, okc, okc news, oklahoma headline, oklahoma news, Scientists, Wine
- New Antimicrobial, Anti-Odor Coating for Clothing and Textiles – Satrn News
- Chemicals in wine, chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor (wspa.com)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | KFOR.com Oklahoma City
- Wine and chocolate can destroy body odor — but not by consuming them | FOX8 WGHP (myfox8.com)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | FOX 2 (fox2now.com)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | KXAN Austin
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | WBTW
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor (fox40.com)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor - planetcirculate
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | KLAS (8newsnow.com)
- New Antimicrobial, Anti-Odor Coating for Clothing and Textiles - News at Ken
- Scientists develop an anti-microbial lining to eliminate body odor – News of America
- Anti-odor coating is no washout Silver and chemicals found in wine and chocolate used to create antimicrobial textile coating — IVAO
- How Chocolate Stain Helped Scientists Create Antiperspirant ‘Cocktail’ (arabnews24.ca)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW) (tristatehomepage.com)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | KRQE News 13
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | WBOY.com
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | WBTW
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor (wjtv.com)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | WLNS 6 News
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | WWTI - InformNNY.com
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | KGET 17
- Sweet-smelling chemicals in wine and chocolate :: Now Smell This - Special Skins
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | WANE 15
- Wine and chocolate help create coating that destroys body odor (klfy.com)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | CBS 42
- Chemicals in wine, chocolate help destroy body odor (cbs4indy.com)
- Sweet-smelling chemicals in wine and chocolate :: Now Smell This (nstperfume.com)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor – Queen City News (fox46.com)
- Chemicals in wine, chocolate help create coating that destroys body odor - Yours Headline
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | KTA (yrtnews.com)
- Chemicals in wine, chocolate help create coating that destroys body odor (newsnationnow.com)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | RochesterFirst
- Scientists develop an anti-microbial lining to eliminate body odor (newsfounded.com)
- Chemicals in wine and chocolate help scientists create coating that destroys body odor | WATE 6 On Your Side
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