A pathogenic germ, also known as a pathogen, is a microorganism such as a virus, bacteria, fungus, or parasite that can cause disease in a host organism. Pathogens can enter the body through various routes, including inhalation, ingestion, and direct contact with the skin or mucous membranes.
An engineering researcher at the University of Alberta has developed an antibacterial solution that kills pathogenic germs when they come into contact with face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
According to Hyo-Jick Choi, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, the chemical can be sprayed on or used to soak protective fabric and respirators, or it can be applied as a film on high-traffic surfaces such as elevator buttons, doorknobs, and handrails.
Choi says his substance has been tested on the human coronavirus, influenza virus, and multiple infectious bacteria, and has been shown to “kill them effectively.”
Filtration of infectious droplets by PPE fabrics currently depends mainly on mesh size, says Choi. Once captured on the surface of such fabrics, viruses and bacteria can survive from a few days to several weeks, “raising safety concerns about contact transmission from used fabrics during use and disposal.”
Conventional lab-level attempts to develop antimicrobial compounds using biochemical, metallic or carbon-based materials have been unable to overcome issues of slow inactivation, toxicity, rapid loss of antimicrobial activity and scalability limits.
Professor Hyo-Jick Choi
Choi’s “universal pathogen negation substance” can easily be applied to any conventional fabrics and solid surfaces of PPE, he says, “efficiently inactivating infectious viruses and bacteria through physical contact.”
The antimicrobial study is part of a two-pronged effort by Choi and his team to strengthen pandemic readiness. They are also developing a solid vaccine that can be given orally, making it easier to administer than injections while also being more stable and easier to store than solutions that require refrigeration.
“Conventional lab-level attempts to develop antimicrobial compounds using biochemical, metallic or carbon-based materials have been unable to overcome issues of slow inactivation, toxicity, rapid loss of antimicrobial activity and scalability limits,” says Choi.
His antimicrobial molecules are activated in the presence of light even indoor light, “which can be very weak,” he says and it can be applied to surfaces permanently. Choi claims that his team has overcome the primary technological challenges, and that it is now up to an industry partner to adapt the polymer to specific commercial items.
“The overall goal of all of our research is to contribute to public health, especially for pandemic diseases,” he says. “I hope our technology can help control the spread of disease in future pandemics.”
