ArticleScientific reports2026
Leveraging zeta potential as a surface charge metric for trapping and killing of airborne bacteria.
Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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6 authors.
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Abstract
Airborne microorganisms significantly contribute to hospital-associated infections (HAIs), particularly causing respiratory tract infections (RTIs). The spread of Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) airborne bacteria further complicates disease prevention, challenging existing infection control strategies. Current air decontamination technologies are found to have limitations, necessitating novel approaches. In this study, we demonstrated the utility of zeta potential, a natural physicochemical electro-kinetic property of bacteria as a key target, which can be exploited to trap and eliminate MDR airborne bacteria. Multiple respiratory pathogens were included in the study, harbouring various resistance phenotypes. Zeta potentials of these clinical isolates were measured and compared against corresponding ATCC strains. Clinical isolates were aerosolized in a certified BSL-2 setting containing a ZeBox-powered air sterilization device. Viable bacteria were enumerated at various time points, before and after exposure to the air decontamination device. Our analyses revealed that Zeta potential is relatively independent of the origin and antibiotic susceptibility of the tested isolates. Exposure to ZeBox powered device for 5 min resulted in a minimum of 5 log reduction (99.999%) among majority of the isolates, irrespective of their genus and origin. Zeta potential measurements correlated to the kill kinetics of ZeBox technology. The current study underscores the reliability of zeta potential based air decontamination technologies such as ZeBox for potential elimination of diverse, airborne respiratory pathogens in healthcare and domestic settings, offering a promising strategy to combat HAIs in post antibiotic and post pandemic era.
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