Tri-Filler: UCalgary researchers develop new antimicrobial agent to make every-day surfaces safer

July 21, 2026

Tri-Filler: UCalgary researchers develop new antimicrobial agent to make every-day surfaces safer

Breakthrough nanostructures outperform a common antibacterial compound by 230 times, paving the way for long-term self-sanitizing surfaces in high-traffic areas

In a research laboratory, three researchers stand beside a lab bench while conducting materials testing. From left to right, Noora Darwish, Reza Lashkari, and Mehdi Mohammadi Ashani wear white lab coats, protective eyewear, gloves, and respirator masks. Reza Lashkari holds a small sample and presents it toward a piece of laboratory equipment, while the other two researchers observe. The workspace contains scientific instruments, ventilation hoods, and laboratory supplies, illustrating a collaborative resear

From left: Noora Darwish, Reza Lashkari and Mehdi Mohammadi Ashani look at a sample of Tri-Filler. Tammie Samuel, Communications

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the biggest human health concerns, but researchers at the 91�� have developed an additive that has shown a 230-fold improvement in eliminating bacteria from surfaces.

“Imagine we have a coating which is antibacterial and self-cleaning. It could dramatically reduce the transmission of infectious pathogens, creating safer spaces for people,” says , PhD, with the , one of several researchers working on Tri-Filler, an additive developed through a partnership between the , , and the (ACAD) in the .

This work builds upon to incorporate long-term antibacterial properties into high-traffic environments, led by , PhD, a professor in the .

The team says the material could be used in concrete, paint and surface coatings in high-contact environments where hygiene is critical. This includes places like public transportation, hospitals, schools and daycares.

Tri-Filler uses food-grade compounds, offering a safer alternative to harsher disinfectants while being designed to create surfaces that can continuously reduce microbial survival over time, rather than only at the point of application, says Dr. Noora Darwish, PhD’25, a visiting professor and former graduate student at Schulich.

How it works

Tammie Samuel, Communications

Tri-Filler works by entrapping calcium hydroxide — the active antibacterial component — with a calcium carbonate shell in a specially engineered core–shell structure. This design significantly enhances antibacterial performance compared to calcium hydroxide, a commonly used antibacterial compound.

To test the material's antimicrobial performance, Schulich postdoctoral associate Dr. Reza Lashkari, PhD, MSc’25, incorporated it into coating and flooring samples. Then Mohammadi Ashani designed and led the antibacterial testing process, exposing the samples to bacteria using methods replicating real-world contamination on surfaces.

Mohammadi Ashani found Tri-Filler proved more than 200 times more effective at killing bacteria than calcium hydroxide, a commonly used antimicrobial agent, highlighting its potential for use in high-touch environments and surfaces.

“It has a control release of the calcium hydroxide, so we can control how it would be effective during a given application,” says Lashkari, who also works in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering.

Mohammadi Ashani says early testing also suggests the material could maintain its effectiveness over time. In tests subjecting the particles to high temperatures and humidity for over a year, the particles remained structurally intact and retained their antibacterial properties.

What’s next

While further testing is underway, the work is already advancing toward real‑world deployment through a partnership with Biosenta Inc., a company providing the commercial pathway and technical support needed to translate the findings into a market-ready hygiene technology, says Mohammadi Ashani, who also serves as a senior scientist with the company.

“I’ve been working with Biosenta over the past several years to help advance this technology toward commercialization,” says Mohammadi Ashani. “This includes a focus on validation strategy, generating evidence in real conditions and de-risking the technology to evaluate product performance, ensuring regulatory standards are met and customers can be confident with their investment.”

He adds that the “ultimate goal” is to help transform promising innovations into validated, commercially viable products that improve public health, create sustainable business value, and deliver lasting societal impact.