Researchers from the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (ISSP UL) Laura Pauniņa and Rihards Ruska were invited to Radio NABA to talk about their innovative work supported by the BioPhoT platform, which is supporting multiple new biomedicine and photonics solutions from ISSP UL that display commercial and industry-ready potential.
During the conversation, they introduced their project – a sprayable coating with antimicrobial and luminescent properties. The team aims to develop a material that not only suppresses microorganisms but also visibly signals its presence on a surface. This could enable simple, fast hygiene monitoring in environments where cleanliness is critical, such as hospitals, procedure rooms, and laboratories.
Laura and Rihards discussed how the idea emerged, how they navigated the competitive BioPhoT application process, and what challenges the team faced along the way. They also offered a glimpse into the experiments ahead in the coming months, as the project moves from concept toward functional prototypes.
