Topic: New antimicrobial developed to combat coronaviruses
Laboratory tests carried out on face masks treated with a chemical agent that produces a potent form of oxygen when activated by light, have shown that it can destroy human coronaviruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Microbiologist Dr. David Webber, who has advised the NHS on hospital infection control and was involved with the legislation for the control of Legionnaire’s Disease, said it was “probably the most important breakthrough in infection control for almost half a century.”
The tests with SingloTex, conducted by scientists at the accredited Perfectus-Biomed laboratories at SciTech science park at Daresbury, Cheshire, showed that almost 99% of the human coronavirus 229E deposited on the masks were inactivated after exposure to light.
Dr Webber said: “This is a very exciting development with far-reaching potential for infection control by eradicating pathogenic bacteria and viruses on a vast range of both soft and hard surfaces.
“The ability to deactivate human coronavirus on face masks, as proven by the test results, could be extended to all forms of PPE (personal protective equipment) in all clinical and medical settings – including surgical gowns, aprons, gloves and goggles.
“SingloTex is a photocatalytic agent that can be deposited on or integrated into almost any hard surface including plastics, metal, glass and composites and, as such, it has vast potential as an antimicrobial treatment for medical and surgical instruments and appliances, food processing equipment and sanitary ware.”
Wearing a face mask has been shown to reduce transmission of coronavirus by at least 50% but if the mask had been treated with SingloTex this would “produce a further significant level of protection” both for the wearer and others who came into contact with them.
Topic Discussed: New antimicrobial developed to combat coronaviruses
