Microbial disinfection for personal protection equipment
Inventors
Chen, James Chongchu • Bjornson, Celesta Jane • Bjornson, John David • Chen, LuAnn Lawton • Chen, Stephanie Marie Chong-Ming • Hoang, Daniel Duong • Lendvay, Kathleen Clare • Rolley, Paul Deven
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11458220-B2
Publication Date
2022-10-04
Expiration Date
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Abstract
A photosensitizer formulation can be disposed on or in a mesh; net; netting; screen; curtain of strands, fibers, or monofilaments; substrate, personal protective gear, mask, or any other suitable object. The photosensitizer formulation, when in contact with molecular oxygen and activated by light or ultrasound, produces microbicidal singlet oxygen. A variety of different arrangements and applications are described. For example, an air flow device may also be included to generate a flow of air through or over the photosensitizer formulation. A fluorescent formulation may be included to monitor photobleaching. The photosensitizer formulation may be disposed in a concentration gradient to generate antigenic particles by damaging or destroying microbes.
Core Innovation
Various embodiments include articles, compositions, or formulations that produce singlet oxygen from molecular oxygen using a photosensitizer that is activated using light or ultrasound. The photosensitizer formulation can be disposed on or in a mesh, net, netting, screen, curtain of strands, fibers, or monofilaments, substrate, personal protective gear, mask, or any other suitable object, and when activated produces microbicidal singlet oxygen configured to damage microbes and generate antigenic particles.
The background identifies that infectious disease outbreaks necessitate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) but that available face coverings afford variable protection, may be uncomfortable, and that bleach and alcohol-based disinfectants may be toxic. The invention provides active antimicrobial and antiviral disinfection applied to PPE, substrates, and other objects as an alternative that can disinfect air or surfaces and can include means to monitor photobleaching or to generate antigenic particles from damaged microbes.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes one independent claim from which two main inventive features are extracted.
Substrate arranged as a mask or a face covering
a substrate that is arranged as a mask or a face covering
Photosensitizer formulation with a concentration gradient producing microbicidal singlet oxygen
a photosensitizer formulation disposed on or in the substrate with a concentration gradient of a photosensitizer formation along at least one dimension of the substrate, wherein the photosensitizer formulation, when in contact with molecular oxygen and activated by light or ultrasound, produces microbicidal singlet oxygen configured to damage at least one microbe and generate antigenic particles.
The independent claim covers a mask or face covering substrate combined with a photosensitizer formulation disposed with a concentration gradient that, upon activation by light or ultrasound in the presence of molecular oxygen, produces microbicidal singlet oxygen and generates antigenic particles.
Stated Advantages
Provides microbicidal singlet oxygen for damage, deactivation, or destruction of microbes and viruses when the photosensitizer formulation is activated by light or ultrasound.
Offers an active antimicrobial and antiviral disinfection approach applicable to PPE, surfaces, and air as an alternative to bleach and alcohol-based products which the patent states may be toxic.
Enables convenient, on-demand disinfection of masks, nets, meshes, or other PPE to facilitate reuse and rapid disinfection in any location or at any time.
Includes a fluorescent formulation or detector approach to monitor photobleaching and guide reapplication of photosensitizer formulations.
Permits generation of antigenic particles by damaging or destroying microbes using a concentration gradient of the photosensitizer formulation, with potential for mucosal immune stimulation as described.
Documented Applications
Photosensitizer formulation disposed on or in meshes, nets, netting, screens, curtains of strands, fibers, or monofilaments, substrates, personal protective gear, and masks to generate singlet oxygen when activated by light or ultrasound.
Air flow devices (for example, fans, blowers, or bubblers) used with photosensitizer formulations to generate and distribute singlet oxygen through or over the formulation.
Inclusion of a fluorescent formulation or fluorescence detection device to monitor photobleaching of the photosensitizer formulation.
Application of a photosensitizer formulation in a concentration gradient on a mask or substrate to damage microbes and generate antigenic particles for potential immune stimulation.
Administration of photosensitizer-containing eyedrops to the conjunctival sac to drain into the nasal cavity and be photoactivated by a light source for nasal disinfection.
A pouch or transparent disinfection device that receives a face mask, net, or mesh and illuminates the photosensitizer formulation to disinfect the item.
Deployable films, neck-worn films, headgear, helmets, curtains of strands/fibers/monofilaments, and nets or meshes coated with photosensitizer formulations for personal or environmental protection.
Bubblers generating bubbles incorporating singlet oxygen from a photosensitizer formulation for airborne or surface disinfection.
Battery-powered drones or airborne devices that disperse singlet oxygen generated from a photosensitizer formulation.
Incorporation of photosensitizer formulations into washing machines, cleaning devices, or rotating drums to disinfect garments and sports equipment.
Roll-on, spray, film, semi-solid stick, or applicator formats for applying photosensitizer formulations to masks, nets, clothing, or skin surfaces.
Kits that include articles coated with photosensitizer formulations, applicators, light sources, or saliva assays to assess user immune response to generated antigenic particles.
Saliva immunoglobulin A (SIgA) test kits and saliva assays to assess mucosal immune responses after exposure to antigenic particles generated by the photosensitizer formulation.
Formulations combining photosensitizers with high molecular weight hyaluronic acid for topical skin or hair applications and embodiments for mouthguard or chewing gum delivery of photosensitizers.
Use of chitosan or chitosan derivatives combined with photosensitizers to form breathable, hydrophobic fabrics, gels, or sprays for surface disinfection and immunogen generation.
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