# Experimental cotton reduces microbial accumulation under hospital lighting

_Published Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 6:06 AM EDT · Science · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![The material thoroughly neutralized harmful E. coli bacteria within 60 minutes of exposure to visible white light — Primary](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/2e7114d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2598x1364+0+184/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F38%2F70%2Fa4a85e8d44cbadd6f18632b9656b%2Fe-coli-at-10000x-original.jpeg&na.image_optimisation=0)

Experimental cotton exposed to light accumulated 75% fewer microorganisms than conventional cotton in hospital rooms, researchers at Universitat Politècnica de València reported. Samples spent 48 hours on bed rails and mattresses in the rooms of 12 patients at La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital in Valencia.

The fabric combines cotton with chitosan and cyanoguanidine layers containing two light-sensitive antimicrobial dyes. In laboratory tests under white light, it completely inactivated Escherichia coli within 60 minutes and Enterococcus faecalis within 20 minutes.

The material retained much of its antimicrobial effect after 20 wash cycles. Performance depended on lighting: samples without direct light showed only a 25% reduction in microorganisms.

## Sources

- [New Atlas: Technology-Innovation-Outdoor News](https://newatlas.com/materials/antimicrobial-cotton-viruses-white-light/)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/myic5xDTWHjmU8KXT12r4B
Published: 2026-10-18T10:06:17.941Z
Story chronology: 2026-10-18T08:03:00.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-10-18T12:33:44.356Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)