• New antimicrobial air filters tested on

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Wed Mar 9 21:30:50 2022
    New antimicrobial air filters tested on trains rapidly kill SARS-CoV-
    2 and other viruses

    Date:
    March 9, 2022
    Source:
    University of Birmingham
    Summary:
    Researchers have developed new antimicrobial technology for air
    filters which can in seconds kill bacteria, fungi and viruses
    including SARS-CoV- 2 -- providing a potential solution to prevent
    the spread of airborne infections.



    FULL STORY ========================================================================== Researchers at the University of Birmingham working in partnership with
    firms NitroPep Ltd and Pullman AC have developed new antimicrobial
    technology for air filters which can in seconds kill bacteria, fungi
    and viruses including SARS- CoV-2 -- providing a potential solution to
    prevent the spread of airborne infections.


    ==========================================================================
    In a study, published today (9 March 2022) in journal Scientific Reports,
    the antimicrobial treatment for air filters -- coated with a chemical
    biocide called chlorhexidine digluconate (CHDG) -- were rigorously
    tested and compared to commonly used standard 'control' filters in the laboratory, in industrial air condensing units, and in a trial on-board
    trains operating on the UK's railways.

    In the laboratory, cells of the Wuhan strain of SARS-CoV-2 -- the virus
    that causes COVID-19 -- were added to the surface of both the treated
    and control filters and measured at intervals over a period of more
    than an hour. The results showed that, while much of the virus remained
    on the surface of the control filter for an hour, all SARS-CoV-2 cells
    were killed within 60 seconds on the treated filter. Similar results
    were seen in experiments testing bacteria and fungi that commonly cause
    illness in humans -- including E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans --
    proving the novel technology to be both highly effective anti-fungal
    and anti-bacterial air filter treatments.

    Meanwhile, in order to determine how effective the filters are in a
    real-world setting, both the control and treated filters were installed in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems on train carriages. The filters were installed for three months in matched pairs across carriages
    on the same train- line, before being removed and shipped for analysis
    with researchers counting colonies of bacteria remaining on them. The
    trial found no pathogens survived on the treated filter, even after
    three months on-board the train.

    Further tests also found the treated filters are durable, and are able
    to maintain their structure and filtration function over the lifetime
    of their use.

    Dr Felicity de Cogan, Royal Academy of Engineering Industry Fellow at
    the University of Birmingham, said: "The COVID-19 pandemic has brought
    to the forefront of public consciousness the real need for new ways to
    control the spread of airborne respiratory pathogens. In crowded spaces,
    from offices to large indoor venues, shopping malls, and on public
    transport, there is an incredibly high potential for transmission of
    COVID-19 and other viruses such as flu. Most ventilation systems recycle
    air through the system, and the filters currently being used in these
    systems are not normally designed to prevent the spread of pathogens,
    only to block air particles. This means filters can actually act as
    a potential reservoir for harmful pathogens. We are excited that we
    have been able to develop a filter treatment which can kill bacteria,
    fungi and viruses -- including SARS-CoV-2 -- in seconds. This addresses
    a global un-met need and could help clean the air in enclosed spaces,
    helping to prevent the spread of respiratory disease." Dr de Cogan
    said that, while there have been other novel filters to 'purify air' --
    from high-efficiency particulate air filters used in aerospace cabins,
    to UV light, and silver nanoparticles added to filter mesh -- these
    have fallen short as they either lack energy efficiency or speed in effectiveness and are not ideal for the majority of existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems which would require significant infrastructure upgrades to use them.

    Dr de Cogan adds: "In comparison, the technology we have developed can
    be applied to existing filters and can be used in existing heating,
    ventilation and air conditioning systems with no need for the cost or
    hassle of any modifications. This level of compatibility with existing
    systems removes many of the barriers encountered when new technologies
    are brought onto the market." NitroPep Ltd is now further developing the filters to deliver them as a product on the market. The new technology
    is the latest stage of Dr de Cogan's ongoing research creating patented antimicrobial technologies, which has included the development of a
    coating for surfaces called NitroPep that is also effective against
    SARS-CoV-2.

    The latest study comes after previous research carried out globally
    has found that the risk of developing COVID-19 increases with greater
    public transport use, while other former studies have shown higher rates
    of flu-like illnesses in people travelling on London's underground,
    as well as a 6-fold increase in respiratory infection in people using
    a tram or bus.

    The new research, published today (9 March 2022) in Scientific Reports,
    was funded by the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Engineering
    and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Medical Research Foundation,
    and Engineering X Pandemic Preparedness, run by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

    It was carried out in collaboration with NitroPep Ltd, Pullman AC Ltd,
    and the University of Nottingham.


    ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Birmingham. Note:
    Content may be edited for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. Rowan Watson, Morwenna Oldfield, Jack A. Bryant, Lily Riordan,
    Harriet J.

    Hill, Julie A. Watts, Morgan R. Alexander, Michael J. Cox,
    Zania Stamataki, David J. Scurr, Felicity de Cogan. Efficacy of
    antimicrobial and anti-viral coated air filters to prevent the
    spread of airborne pathogens. Scientific Reports, 2022; 12 (1)
    DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022- 06579-9 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220309090712.htm

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