Abstract
Airborne microorganisms significantly contribute to hospital-associated infections (HAIs), particularly causing respiratory tract infections (RTIs). The spread of Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) airborne bacteria further complicates disease prevention, challenging existing infection control strategies. Current air decontamination technologies are found to have limitations, necessitating novel approaches. In this study, we demonstrated the utility of zeta potential, a natural physicochemical electro-kinetic property of bacteria as a key target, which can be exploited to trap and eliminate MDR airborne bacteria. Multiple respiratory pathogens were included in the study, harbouring various resistance phenotypes. Zeta potentials of these clinical isolates were measured and compared against corresponding ATCC strains. Clinical isolates were aerosolized in a certified BSL-2 setting containing a ZeBox-powered air sterilization device. Viable bacteria were enumerated at various time points, before and after exposure to the air decontamination device. Our analyses revealed that Zeta potential is relatively independent of the origin and antibiotic susceptibility of the tested isolates. Exposure to ZeBox powered device for 5 min resulted in a minimum of 5 log reduction (99.999%) among majority of the isolates, irrespective of their genus and origin. Zeta potential measurements correlated to the kill kinetics of ZeBox technology. The current study underscores the reliability of zeta potential based air decontamination technologies such as ZeBox for potential elimination of diverse, airborne respiratory pathogens in healthcare and domestic settings, offering a promising strategy to combat HAIs in post antibiotic and post pandemic era.
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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article.
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Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge Dr. Santanu Datta and Dr. Arindam Ghatak, Biomoneta Private Limited, Bangalore for providing access to the Zebox powered instrument; University Grants Commission, UGC-SAP-DRS-III, Department of Science and Technology, DST-FIST and Department of Biotechnology, DBT-BIF, Govt. of India for the infrastructural support to the Department of Biosciences, SSSIHL, Prasanthi Nilayam and Indian Council of Medical Research, ICMR-SRF from Govt. of India to ASKP. BEP received extramural Research support from ICMR, Govt. of India. (OMI/27/2020-ECD-I and AMR/Adhoc/281/2022-ECD-II).
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BEP designed the study, KKP provided the clinical isolates, ASKP and SVLSKK conducted the experiments and prepared the draft manuscript. *S. pneumoniae* , *H. influenzae* and ATCC strains were provided along with their AST reports by RJ and BV respectively. BEP reviewed and prepared the final version of the manuscript.
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This study was conducted following approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL/IEC/PSN/BS/2014/03) and Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur, Chennai (IEC-NI/20/JAN/73/04) in accordance with the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki. informed consent was obtained from all subjects and/or their legal guardian(s).
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Peketi, A.S.K., SVL, S., P, K.K. et al. Leveraging zeta potential as a surface charge metric for trapping and killing of airborne bacteria. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-38958-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-38958-x
