The smart antimicrobials market will grow to around $1.3 billion by 2020, according to a recent report entitled “Markets for Smart Antimicrobial Coatings and Surfaces-2015 to 2022”released by n-tech Research. As drug-resistant microbes and hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) continue to spread, smart materials are being used to combat them. This report quantifies the market for these “smart antimicrobials,” which include antimicrobial peptides, smart polymers, silver preparations and super-hydrophobic preparations. It also covers multifunctional materials that combine antimicrobial action with self-cleaning and self-healing capabilities.

Currently, the smart antimicrobials market is dominated by silver-based materials, although some smart antimicrobials based on photosynthesis are also widely available.The silver-based smart antimicrobials market will continue to grow, reaching $913 million by 2020, but will be held back by the appearance of more effective smart antimicrobials such as peptides, as well as environmental concerns about silver itself. 

Another strong trend involves combining smart antimicrobials with additional self-cleaning and self-healing functionality. Self-cleaning adds to the antimicrobial effect by washing away microbes, while self-repair of cracks gives microbes no place to hide. By 2020, smart multifunctional coatings and surfaces are expected to generate around $120 million.

Sales of smart antimicrobials will focus on medical equipment and medical uniforms. Growing the market for smart antimicrobials into non-healthcare markets will be a challenge. However, it is predicted that smart antimicrobials are likely to sell well in niches outside of medical markets, such as high-use and high-traffic areas in buildings, and clothing and textiles. The interior surfaces of cars, trucks, aircraft and marine vessels present additional opportunities for smart antimicrobial surfaces. 

For more information, visit www.ntechresearch.com.