Researchers make clothing that kills viruses on contact

In different work environments, such as healthcare, it is essential to have clothing hygienic and even disinfect it from time to time, and to facilitate this matter, researchers have created clothing capable of killing virus and bacteria on contact.

so it They have gotten researchers at the University of Alberta who are working on self-decontaminating fabrics that can fit well on the production line and on all kinds of uniforms.

“We want to take technology out of the lab and scale it up to be efficient and compatible with industrial-level manufacturing processes, which is a big step.”, says the principal investigator patricia doleztextile scientist in the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences.

This research is supported by a grant of nearly $1 million from the Department of Homeland Defense’s Innovation for Excellence and Security program funds.

This special fabric is finished using N-halamines, which are compounds that can kill bacteria and viruses, all quickly and efficiently, and best of all, it can be easily grafted onto textiles.

Designed for professional uniforms such as soldiers or doctors

It is a compound that has been more thought for uniforms like the one worn by soldiers, firefighters, paramedics or those hospital workers.

“This solution could be applied to any type of protective clothing, even face masks, presenting an additional way to help first responders stay healthy and safe.Dolez says.

On the other hand, they are creating a recharging system necessary to reactivate the finish, and it would basically be by immersing the garment in specific liquid solutions.

As we said, the fabric It is more designed for professional garments, such as those that soldiers can wear, since in this type of field they do not usually have access to washing machines or running water, so they could wear a garment that not only allows them to put up a barrier against viruses and bacteria, but also favor the harsh conditions in such remote environments.

“We want to develop a system that takes up minimal space, is not bulky or heavy, does not need to be done frequently, and can be easily applied. Could be a powder or a liquid”, they comment.

To achieve their goal, the researchers have partnered with Logistik Unicorp Inc, which is dedicated to managing supply chains for a wide variety of corporate and government clients who use this type of protective clothing.