# US 12,595,379 B2 · Articles coated with metal nanoparticle agglomerates > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,595,379 B2 - Document ID: US12595379B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/819,069 - Filed: 2022-08-11 - Published: 2023-02-16 - Granted: 2026-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-11 - Assignees: Kuprion Inc. - Applicants: Kuprion, Inc. - Inventors: Alfred A. Zinn; Rachel Brody; Randall M. Stoltenberg; Robert Roth; Khanh Nguyen; Nhi Ngo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12595379B2 ## CPC - C09D 5/14: Paints containing biocides, e.g. fungicides, insecticides or pesticides (C09D5/16 takes precedence) - B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites - B82Y 40/00: Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures - C08K 3/08: Metals - C09D 7/61: inorganic - C09D 7/67: {Particle size smaller than 100 nm} - C09D 7/68: {Particle size between 100-1000 nm} - C09D 7/69: {Particle size larger than 1000 nm} - C08K 2003/0806: {Silver} - C08K 2003/085: {Copper} - C08K 2201/005: Additives being defined by their particle size in general - C08K 2201/011: Nanostructured additives - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES - C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09) ## Abstract Metal nanoparticle agglomerates may render the surface of an article biocidal toward microorganisms. Articles having a biocidal surface may comprise a coating comprising metal nanoparticle agglomerates adhered via an adhesive to at least a portion of a surface of the article. A coating formulation comprising metal nanoparticle agglomerates may be applied to the surface of an article to accomplish the foregoing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article comprising: a coating comprising metal nanoparticle agglomerates dispersed in a dissolvable or degradable polymer, wherein the dissolvable or degradable polymer comprises at least one of polyvinyl alcohol, polylactic acid, and polyglycolic acid, wherein the metal nanoparticle: agglomerates are dispersed in the dissolvable or degradable polymer at about 0.5 to about 25 wt. % with respect to the polymer mass; and wherein the coating is adhered via an adhesive to at least a portion of a surface of the article. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of claim 1, wherein the metal nanoparticle agglomerates comprise a plurality of metal nanoparticles that are fused, partially fused, and/or unfused and are associated with one another upon the surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The article of claim 2, wherein metal nanoparticles within the metal nanoparticle agglomerates comprise copper nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The article of claim 3, wherein the metal nanoparticle agglomerates further comprise an additive for producing reactive oxygen species, wherein the additive for producing reactive oxygen species comprises NiO, ZnO, TiO2, a cobalt salt, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The article of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the metal nanoparticles are unfused with one another when the metal nanoparticle agglomerates are adhered to the surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The article of claim 1, wherein at least a majority of the metal nanoparticles within the metal nanoparticle agglomerates range from about 50 nm to about 250 nm in size. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The article of claim 1, wherein the metal nanoparticle agglomerates range from about 0.1 micron to about 35 microns in size. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: applying a coating formulation comprising a plurality of metal nanoparticle agglomerates dispersed in a dissolvable or degradable polymer, wherein the dissolvable or degradable polymer comprises at least one of polyvinyl alcohol, polylactic acid, and polyglycolic acid upon a surface of an article; wherein the metal nanoparticle agglomerates are dispersed in the dissolvable or degradable polymer at about 0.5 to about 25 wt. % with respect to the polymer mass; and adhering the metal nanoparticle agglomerates to the surface via at least an adhesive to form a coating upon the surface of the article. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the metal nanoparticle agglomerates comprise a plurality of metal nanoparticles that are fused, partially fused, and/or unfused and are associated with one another upon the surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein metal nanoparticles within the metal nanoparticle agglomerates comprise copper nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the metal nanoparticle agglomerates further comprise an additive for producing reactive oxygen species, wherein the additive for producing reactive oxygen species comprises NiO, ZnO, TiO2, a cobalt salt, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein metal nanoparticles within the metal nanoparticle agglomerates have a surfactant coating thereon, and adhering further comprises removing the surfactant coating from the metal nanoparticles. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein removing the surfactant coating comprises applying heat, gas flow, vacuum, or any combination thereof to the article after applying the coating formulation thereto. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein removing the surfactant coating takes place below a fusion temperature of the metal nanoparticles. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein at least a majority of the metal nanoparticles within the metal nanoparticle agglomerates range from about 50 nm to about 250 nm in size. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the metal nanoparticle agglomerates range from about 0.1 micron to about 35 microns in size. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the coating formulation is applied to the surface of the article by spray coating or dip coating. ### Claim 18 An article comprising: a coating comprising metal nanoparticle agglomerates and metal salt compounds, wherein the metal nanoparticle agglomerates comprise copper nanoparticles, and wherein the coating is adhered via an adhesive to at least a portion of a surface of the article; wherein the nanoparticle agglomerates and metal salt compounds are dispersed in a dissolvable or degradable polymer, wherein the dissolvable or degradable polymer comprises at least one of polyvinyl alcohol, polylactic acid, and polyglycolic acid; and wherein the metal nanoparticle agglomerates are dispersed in the dissolvable or degradable polymer at about 0.5 to about 25 wt. % with respect to the polymer mass. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The article according to claim 18, wherein the metal salt compounds comprise one or more of chlorides, bisulfites, and bicarbonates.