Nanotech-coating on textiles that can deactivate coronavirus within five minutes of contact has been developed by Muse Nanobots, a subsidiary of Muse Wearables founded by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras alumni and supported by its incubation cell. The textiles offers enhanced protection to travelers, frontline healthcare, hospital, hotel and restaurant workers, the company claims.
The technology start-up conducted a study with the US-based Situ Biosciences, an independent product test laboratory in Chicago that specialises in providing microbial product testing. The study, conducted to gauge the effectiveness of Muse Nanobots antiviral coating on coronavirus 229E, showed that it inactivated 99.99 per cent of the pathogen within five minutes of contact.
“We are one of the first Indian technology companies to prove, via clinical testing and validation, the coating efficacy of our product on coronavirus. Muse Nanobots coating has also displayed strong anti-bacterial activity on human pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The coating makes the textile surface self-sanitising and provides a germ-resistant surface,” Sai Prasanth, co-founder of the company, was quoted as saying by Indian media reports.
The coating can be applied on any kind of fabric and can be coated on masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, clothes and packaging material. The test also has shown that it is non-toxic to human cells and is comfortable to use. The start-up aims to install its nanocoating machines in about 15 Indian textile companies that make regular office and casual attire, sportswear, PPE, decor and packaging material by the end of this year. Company chief executive officer Gautam Reddy said the machine can coat fabrics at an industrial production scale and can be integrated with existing textile production facilities.
The coating lasts up to 60 washes when washed under 70 degrees Celsius. The coated chemicals do not show any leaching of chemicals, Reddy added. Apart from direct installations at partner locations, the company also has a coating facility in Bengaluru where textile companies can send their fabrics to be treated with the anti-viral coating. The start-up plans to set up three more facilities in different cities to cater to the demand and achieve faster turnaround time by September-end.
