ANTIVIS: Commercialisation of breakthrough antiviral stickers

Smart Separations Portugal Unipessoal, Lda

After months of lockdown, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people are gradually returning to work, sharing surfaces and objects that are potentially contaminated, in both public and work spaces. SARS-CoV-2, the causing agent of COVID-19, is transmitted through contaminated surfaces and aerosols and can remain viable on surfaces up to several days (van Doremalen, N et al, 2020). Constant disinfection of surfaces is costly and impractical. Contact-killing surfaces are needed to decrease the risk of transmission and safely resume economic activities.

Smart Separations (SSL) has created ViraTeq® Stickers, self-adhesive films coated with SSL´s fast-acting, long-lasting antimicrobial nanocoating, ViraTeq®. ViraTeq® Stickers are a fast and cheap solution to functionalize surfaces and create contact-killing antimicrobial surfaces, which is especially important for highly touched areas. ViraTeq® Stickers are efficient against bacteria, fungi and viruses, including SARSCoV-2. They can be easily applied on a variety of materials, such as plastics, steel, glass, wood and many more. Innov4COV-19 funding will accelerate the scale up and regulatory requirements of the stickes and support the market research work.

COVID-19 led to a global economic crisis that has started over a year ago (ONS, 2020). Although vaccines are playing an essential role in the fight against SARS-CoV-2, they will not be enough to quickly end up the risk of a new pandemic on its own (WHO, 2020). The appearance of new viral strains also pose risks for new outbreaks in the near future. Populations will be forced to adapt and make adjustments to their daily lives to control the spread of this and future pandemics. ViraTeq® Stickers are part of an efficient strategy to prevent the current and future pandemics.