UPV scientists develop white-light antimicrobial cotton fabric

Scientists at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) have developed an experimental self-disinfecting cotton fabric that is activated by ordinary white light. Unlike previous light-activated materials that required specialized ultraviolet or blue light, this textile functions under the standard illumination already present in hospital settings.

The material is composed of regular cotton layered with chitosan and a crystalline compound called cyanoguanidine, impregnated with two photosensitive antimicrobial dyes: methylene blue and rose bengal. In laboratory tests, the fabric completely inactivated Escherichia coli within 60 minutes and Enterococcus faecalis within 20 minutes. It also significantly reduced Candida albicans fungus within three hours.

During clinical testing at La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital in Valencia, the fabric was placed on bed rails and mattresses in 12 patient rooms. Samples exposed to direct light accumulated 75% fewer microorganisms than conventional cotton. The fabric also demonstrated durability, retaining its antimicrobial properties after 20 wash cycles, making it a practical option for repeated hospital use.