CuO₂-loaded quaternized chitosan-based composite nanofiber membranes: Immediate contact antibacterial for high-risk public surface engineering

Bacterial adhesion to public surfaces is a critical risk for infectious disease transmission and large-scale outbreaks. Current disinfection methods (liquid-, steam-, or radiation-based) are limited by infrequent operation and short efficacy. Disrupting transmission chains, reducing cross-infection, and enhancing public health response are urgent issues. To tackle this challenge, a PVA/HACC/IPDI - CuO₂ antibacterial fiber membrane has been developed. The membrane overcomes the stability issues associated with CuO₂ and can capture and immobilize bacteria within 1 s. Its H₂O-responsive characteristic triggers CuO₂ to rapidly release a substantial amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), achieving a reduction of >6-log in the number of viable bacteria (>99 % killing) within 90s. In both simulated bacterial transmission experiments and practical application tests, the membrane effectively disrupts the bacterial transmission chain, thereby providing a novel strategy for preventing the large-scale spread of infectious diseases.