[nanoPost] Anti-microbial nano coated fibres; photocatalytic nano coatings

The company has extensive expertise and capabilities in materials applications and product development. It has one of the largest materials and structures groups in Europe. The core competency of this group is the understanding of materials behaviour and how to harness this behaviour for specific applications. They have particular expertise in:

·     materials modelling and characterization

·     processing and manufacture

·     metallics and ceramics

·     nano- and bio-materials

·     smart materials

·     polymers and polymer matrix composites

One of the key areas being targeted by the company is materials and products with in-built anti-microbial activity that will provide long lasting and highly efficient products. The forms of materials under development include fibres, coatings, foams and other films in a variety of materials from thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers through to natural materials such as cellulose and alginates. Results to date have demonstrated the ability to produce these materials reproducibly and with excellent anti-microbial efficacy.

The company has manufactured both fibres and films using its own equipment incorporating the active anti-microbial ingredients. These capabilities are supported by a full range of mechanical, physical and thermal characterization test facilities together with a suite of SEM, TEM and XRD equipment to enable the materials to be fully characterized and analysed. Anti-microbial activity is evaluated to international standards on behalf on the company by a UK test house.

The company has a number of patents granted on its nanomaterials production process and has filed patents relating to applications of nanomaterials, including anti-microbial fibres. The company has been working in this area for a number of years, developing materials for use in medical, as well as consumer markets, and is also developing anti-fungal materials. Recent trials on an anti-fungal material have been highly promising with indications that the materials have been highly effective in reducing fungal activity. The materials being utilized are highly flexible in the number of applications that are possible and can be used in fibres, films and coatings.

The company has also been undertaking projects aimed at providing environmentally friendly treatment of water on a continuous basis utilizing photocatalytic materials. This work is highly relevant to the current problem. There is also expertise available that can undertake polymer modification to produce polymers with specific surface characteristics, such as hydrophobicity or controlled charge that is also relevant to this problem.

There are a number of potential approaches to solving the problem of bio-fouling that can be made.  The company currently works with companies in a variety of different ways ranging from consultancy, contract research and development, joint development programmes to licensing. The form of the relationship is very dependant on the work involved and the proposed exploitation route envisaged.