Abstract
The continued proliferation of superbugs in hospitals and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created an acute worldwide demand for sustained broadband pathogen suppression in households, hospitals, and public spaces. In response, we have created a highly active, self-sterilizing copper configuration capable of inactivating a wide range of bacteria and viruses in 30-60 seconds. The highly active material destroys pathogens faster than any conventional copper configuration and acts as quickly as alcohol wipes and hand sanitizers. Unlike the latter, our copper material does not release volatile compounds or leave harmful chemical residues and maintains its antimicrobial efficacy over sustained use; it is shelf stable for years. We have performed rigorous testing in accordance with guidelines from U.S. regulatory agencies and believe that the material could offer broad spectrum, non-selective defense against most microbes via integration into masks, protective equipment, and various forms of surface coatings.
Highlights
The rush on PPE and bare supply stockrooms that followed during the pandemic’s onset illustrated a fatal flaw in our approach to microbe management
When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the antimicrobial efficacy of copper alloys in February, 2008, copper’s biocompatibility contributed to their determination that “these products pose no risks to public health; copper products have been in use for centuries, and we know of no harm from such use” (Swindell, 2008)
The two-hour guarantee of bacterial deactivation is accompanied by an EPA mandate to maintain rigorous disinfecting regimens because copper that works on this timescale could still transmit pathogens
Summary
The rush on PPE and bare supply stockrooms that followed during the pandemic’s onset illustrated a fatal flaw in our approach to microbe management. The world relies on stockpiles of resources to create a clean field that is sullied immediately upon contact. The sterility provided by widely used disinfectant options is all too fleeting. Demands imposed by COVID-19 turned inefficiencies into breaking points; there is not enough sterile equipment in the world to shield ourselves if materials do not offer protection beyond a single use. The masks we are using accumulate bacteria over the course of normal wear and are limited to a single, short use before they must be washed or discarded (Yang et al, 2018). We need a material that keeps hands, surfaces, and tools free of pathogens over periods of time spanning weeks, months, or years
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