Paravir Limited, a U.K.-based company, announced the successful development and launch of its new innovative technology for production of fabric with astonishing anti-microbial properties.

Recent testing at U.K. laboratories has confirmed the destruction of 99.99% of the microbial population in under 20 minutes. This represents a world class solution to a global problem with low manufacturing cost.

The fabric is a nonwoven material of the type commonly used in face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE).

Paravir has developed the technology to manufacture a novel, IP-protected, composite material using readily available dry powders impregnated into off-the-shelf, nonwoven material. The technology goes well beyond any previous attempts to make anti-microbial fabric because it does not use a wet process for manufacture and thus can integrate much higher levels of anti-microbial agents. 

Paravir believes its manufacturing process can produce as much as 500 meters of anti-microbial fabric per minute.

Paravir’s innovative approach includes both IP on both novel material composition and manufacturing technology. The active compound used is environmentally friendly, approved and generally regarded as safe (GRAS). It is also low cost and is universally available.

The impregnated material provides an unprecedentedly high level of bio-defence in virtually all environments and Paravir believes it will become the material of choice for face masks and PPE materials such as those used in hospital environments and in general domestic environments including shops, homes and sporting fixtures.

The Paravir process uses impregnation of a dry non-metallic powder which is safe, readily available and low COGS. The resulting material is non-harmful to humans, animals, marine and plant life; The fabric has been proven to eliminate >99.99% of all microbial activity in under 20 minutes, eliminating harmful bio- burden. Most conventional materials do not have anti-microbial properties, so live, active pathogens can survive in the fabric even after disposal.

The global presence of Covid-19 has highlighted the shortcomings of nonwoven materials, which generally lack anti-microbial properties. This is largely due to the cost and complexity associated with their manufacture. The present pandemic will persist for years, and other ever present epidemics re-enforce the need for effective, easily manufactured anti-microbial material, particularly in the surgical and healthcare arena.

Timothy Laing, CEO of Paravir, says: “Paravir’s highly innovative lead product has potential applications in any healthcare modality requiring a disposable material with anti-microbial properties, particularly face masks, curtains, wound dressings, gowns, bed linen, and apparel for patients and staff. Paravir looks forward to interacting with commercial and manufacturing partners worldwide.”

Professor George Griffin, CBE, DSc, FRCP, FMedSci, Emeritus Professor of Infectious Diseases and Medicine at St George's University of London, comments: “The novel anti-pathogenic composite material technology from Paravir has the potential to transform the way in which healthcare systems control infectious disease and remove the bioburden of pathogens from the environment.”