Other patches contain elements such as silver, which has been shown in studies to be an excellent antibacterial agent.

CNN: Lab-created skin helps wounds heal

Zeneca ordered a "wet" copy of a promising gene, in the form of a clone -- a colony of bacterial cells whose members all carry the desired snippet of DNA. These bacterial guinea pigs can then be used to try out antibacterial chemicals.

FORBES: Biology in silico

The result is that any coating, such as an antibacterial layer, would be "self-repairing" after small amounts of damage, as the molecular chains just below the damaged layer re-cover the surface.

BBC: Coating heals itself after damage

Most efforts to prevent their spread have focused on finding new antibiotics or improving hygiene, but Bill Keevil of the University of Southampton, UK, believes that the natural antibacterial properties of copper could be a simple and effective way to combat them.

FORBES: Copper May Be the Key to Defeating MRSA

Bradley's crew thought the device, called Dialpack, might be used to allow consumers to vary the flavor content of ice cream, or the amount of antibacterial agent in hand soap.

FORBES: Gadgets to Go