Technology for air purification from disease-causing agents, inspired by the natural attachment mechanism of bacteria and viruses to cells in our bodies.
By: Yael Halfman Cohen
When landing at an airport in Asia, the prominent hallmark that marks our arrival at the gates of Asia, is people walking around with masks on their faces. Air that is safe to breathe, free of bacteria and viruses, is an expensive and sought-after commodity in some parts of the world. A company from Hong Kong has developed the BioFriend technology, a patented biomimetic solution for eradicating bacteria and viruses.
BioFriend neutralizes pathogens (disease-causing agents), bacteria and viruses. The solution is based on a dedicated and selective perception of the bacteria and viruses. The biomimetic aspect of the solution is related to mimicking receptors in the cells of our bodies to which the pathogens naturally bind, stick, or invade in order to cause disease. Mimicking the structure of the receptors allows the capture of the pathogens and then harming them by creating a disturbance in the surface or the cell walls.
Biofreind responds to a wide range of pathogens including pneumonia, flu, and colds, and is adapted for use on different substrate types and for a variety of applications. It makes it possible to keep objects that are in daily contact and use, and tend to be contaminated by germs and bacteria, clean and safe to use. A possible application for example could be the handles of doors that are exposed to a lot of human contact.
In nature there are elegant strategies for removing bacteria and germs, based on a structural and non-material solution (antibiotics). For example, Sharklet Technologies offers tiles that prevent bacteria from sticking to surfaces inspired by shark skin. Biofriend offers another and elegant solution that allows us to breathe easy in places where there is concern about the quality of the air, or to safely use products that tend to become contaminated with daily use.
In the following video you can watch an explanation of the BioFriend operation:
