AFFIX Labs has launched Si-Quat, a versatile anti-viral surface treatment that has been scientifically proven to last for months on any surface or textile while effectively killing the COVID-19 pathogen upon contact.
AFFIX Labs's team has harnessed its global experience in disease prevention to create the first long-lasting surface treatment proven to kill COVID-19. Si-Quat, that has been tested at Portugal's Biochemistry Institute at the University of Lisbon, combines a safe and well-established disinfectant and a proprietary chemical binding technique, so that the active ingredient can kill viruses, including SARS-COV-2.
Si-Quat has been tested to kill 99.99% of microbes within minutes, while still being fully safe to touch. The product is non-corrosive and free from silver salts and heavy metal nanoparticles.
Several major agencies around the globe have already accepted quaternary ammonium, the main ingredient in the surface coating, to be an effective surface treatment against the novel coronavirus, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Environmental Protection Agency, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the European Chemical Agency (ECHA).
Si-Quat, which was invented in January 2020 by the AFFIX Labs' Repeltec development team, is based on the trusted and safe disinfectant quaternary ammonium. Positively charged nitrogen particles actively attract viruses and bacteria, penetrating the membranes and killing them within minutes.
Rigorous testing has shown Si-Quat to adhere to almost any surface. Due to its incredibly strong layer, the solution only wears down on surfaces after thousands of touches or multiple cleaning cycles. This means that on heavily used surfaces, such as door handles and counters, Si-Quat will be effective for about a month. On rarely touched surfaces like walls, it has the potential to protect for years. Since the product is incredibly easy to brushing or spraying apply, technicians require minimal training and only basic protection.
AFFIX Labs has begun to roll out the distribution of Si-Quat across the globe, with new regions being serviced every week. It is currently looking for distribution partners in local markets.
The project leading to the development of Si-Quat included funding from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union, under the Horizon 2020 Framework for Research and Innovation.