12 anti-virus technologies, from antimicrobial fog to smart door handle

When the first SARS outbreak occurred in 2002, it took scientists several months to

sequence the genome of the virus.In 2020, researchers obtained the COVID-19 genome in less than a month, and soon developed a test to detect the coronavirus. As a result, the pandemic has become a driver for the emergence and development of biotech projects that would protect the world not only from a specific coronavirus, but also from hospital-acquired infections and airborne diseases.

1. UVD Robots

Company:Blue Ocean Robotics, Denmark.

UVD Robots is an autonomous robot thateliminates viruses and bacteria thanks to ultraviolet radiation. It was originally created to fight nosocomial infections. Now UVD Robots is interested not only in hospitals, but also nursing homes and other medical organizations, schools and kindergartens, shopping centers and airports.

It takes 10-15 minutes to disinfect one room. The device consists of a mobile base with several lidar sensors and a set of UV lamps mounted on top. The robot scans the environment and creates a digital map. Then you can comment on it and indicate all the rooms and points that need to be disinfected.

After that UVD Robots completely relies onsimultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) and works independently. If necessary, he can independently move along the elevators, thereby completely eliminating human participation in the work. The robot also uses motion sensors to make sure there are no people nearby. As soon as a person appears in the work area, the device turns off.

2. CoronaOven portable disinfection chamber

Company:Log 9 Materials, India.

Disinfection chamber kills bacteria and virusesusing ultraviolet light. The 20L portable device works like a UV irradiator and is designed to combat COVID-19. The use can be compared to the operation of a microwave oven, as for disinfection it is enough to place the object inside and close the lid.

3 Portable device for disinfection with cold plasma Scorpius, iPlasma

Company:iPlasma, Russia.

Cold plasma is partially ionizedgas, fourth state of matter. Research has shown that if ordinary distilled water in the form of an aerosol is passed through a plasma generator, the output is a disinfectant agent that is more active than many chemical compounds used for disinfection. The destruction of pathogenic microorganisms, bacteria, fungi and viruses occurs due to the oxidation of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids of cells.

Scientists of the Russian company iPlasma have developeda unique method of producing "antimicrobial mist" is a portable stand-alone device designed to obtain antimicrobial agents right at the processing site. The essence of the technology boils down to passing aerosol from distilled water through a cold plasma discharge. Plasma discharge parameters determine the degree of water activation by plasma and the level of disinfection. Currently, the level of disinfection of 4log has been practically reached (this means that out of 10 thousand bacteria, only one survived - 99.99 (9)%). And that's just using plain water. The technology is environmentally friendly, after processing the aerosol breaks down into oxygen and water, leaving no toxic compounds behind.

Devices operating on cold plasma do not emit excess heat, do not make noise, and are not energy-intensive. Moreover, they are completely safe for humans and the environment.

4. Sonovia textile materials

Company:Sonovia, Israel.

Israeli startup makes fabric with nanoparticleszinc oxide and copper oxide. The patented technology is based on ultrasonic cavitation. “Sound waves form bubbles in the liquid, which when compressed create nanoparticles of metal oxides and high-speed jet streams in the liquid itself, pushing the nanoparticles to the surface of the tissue,” explains Sonovia scientist Jason Migdal.

Tests at the Microspectrum laboratory in Shanghai showed that the fabric neutralized 90.67% of the coronavirus it was exposed to. But Reuters has not independently confirmed Sonovia's statement.

The resulting fabric can be used formaking protective masks, clothing, hospital bedding and other clothing to prevent nosocomial infections. The company has already released the reusable SonoMask as a finished product. But they are not certified for use by paramedics in operating theaters and emergency rooms where disposable masks are required. The Israeli team used the SonoMask during the Tour de France.

5. RespoKare face masks

Company:N95 Mask, USA and Innonix Technologies, China.

N95 Personal Protective Equipment DistributorMask teamed up with Innonix Technologies to create an antiviral mask, which later received FDA approval. The mask uses four layers. The first is made of a hydrophilic material that absorbs and traps liquids. It also draws microbes into an acidic membrane, which destabilizes viral proteins. The second layer consists of copper and zinc ions, which destroy pathogens and viruses. The third filters ultrafine particles that have passed the first for the level of protection. And the latter is made of soft water-resistant material for comfortable wearing.

6. Air purifiers Aair

Company:Aeris Health, Switzerland.

Aeris Health manufactures AI air purifiers. There are four models in total, which are designed for different room sizes and special needs. The device destroys bacteria, viruses, fungi, allergens, odors and dust. The devices do not use ultraviolet radiation and ozone.

For example, the Aair Medical Pro model is equipped withmedical filter HEPA 14, which captures 99.995% of particles down to 0.1 micron (typical virus size). The filter is pre-treated with an antimicrobial agent "zinc pyrithione", which destroys bacteria that have entered the filter.

7. Bio-Fence antimicrobial surface coating

Company:Bio-Fence, Israel.

The company has developed a coating that preventscontamination by pathogenic bacteria such as listeria and salmonella in the food industry. After the COVID-19 outbreak, the company tested the invention in the laboratory of David Ben-Gurion University and found that the coating even destroys the herpes virus, which is stronger than the coronavirus.

At the heart of Bio-Fence antimicrobial coatingthere is a stable chlorine - an effective disinfectant. The company's products can be used to cover walls, floors, partitions and other indoor surfaces. Bio-Fence is currently developing a surface chlorine test kit so users know when to renew the coating.

8. ViraTeq antimicrobial coating

Company:Smart Separations, UK, Portugal.

ViraTeq uses syntheticantimicrobial peptides (miniproteins) that penetrate the lipid membrane of the virus and kill it, as if a balloon fell on a cactus. The coating can be sprayed on touch screens, elevator buttons, escalator handles and other surfaces. Tests have shown that the coating works against E. Coli (E. coli), H1N1 (swine flu) and SARS-CoV-2.

In July, the company launched a Kickstarter campaignfunds for a personal air sanitizer Gino. Disinfection consists of two stages. First, germs are attracted to the inner surfaces of the filter, where they are trapped. In the second step, they are destroyed by a rapid chemical reaction with the ViraTeq coating.

nine. Spot Robot

Company:Boston Dynamics, USA.

Social distancing is one of the most effectiveways to combat COVID-19, but sometimes people need to be reminded about it. Spot is a maneuverable robot with 360 ° cameras. Singaporean authorities have used the device to patrol parks and remind visitors to keep a safe distance from each other. And in hospitals, the robot helps to remotely treat patients with coronavirus.

ten. Scrubber for cleaning floors

Company:Carnegie Robotics and Pittsburgh Airport, USA.

Airport merged with roboticcompany to create stand-alone floor scrubbers: they modified machines from the Danish company Nilfisk. Carnegie Robotics has developed artificial intelligence and robotic systems that autonomously map and clean territory. Carnegie Robotics has equipped some of its devices with an ultraviolet emitter for surface treatment after cleaning with pressure and disinfectants.

eleven. Highlight disinfection contrast

Company:Kinnos, USA.

The human factor is the cause of most mistakeswhen cleaning. In this case, the use of disinfectants is the first line of defense. But because of the transparency, missing areas can be overlooked, so Columbia University students have developed a color additive that is mixed with bleach.

Field spray tested in LiberiaGuinea, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda during an outbreak of Ebola and cholera. There are now two versions of contrast: for wipes and liquid bleach. They ensure quality control and compliance with regulatory hygiene requirements.

12. Self-cleaning SteriGrip door handle

Company:Smart Hygiene, Ireland.

The door handle has an integrated reservoir fordisinfectant. It only needs to turn 180 ° to ensure hygiene after each use. The device is powered by the energy generated by opening the door: thanks to this technology, the door handle completely drops out of the chain of disease transmission.

Technologies that are being developed includingfor the fight against coronavirus, they will be useful in the future with the outbreak of new diseases. They also help in the prevention of nosocomial infections, one of the most common in Russia is nosocomial pneumonia. The problem with COVID-19 is that it is a new virus. The body does not immediately recognize it as something bad, so there is no immunity to it. Preventive measures are helping researchers buy time to develop and test vaccines and drugs.

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