The two US firms have now extended the licence agreement to enable the Orbio-E technology to be added to Activeion’s ionatorEXP and ionatorHOM handheld sprays. When used as directed, these devices kill the 2009 pandemic H1N1 Influenza A virus and more than 99.9% of most harmful bacteria (E. coli, VRE, Salmonella, MRSA, Pseudomonas, Staph, Listeria and E. coli 0157:H7) on nonporous hard surfaces with a six-second spray.
Electroporation uses a low-level, externally applied electrical field temporarily to disrupt cell membranes, allowing small molecules to pass directly into the cells. If the applied electric field is below a certain threshold, the disrupted areas – or pores formed in the cellular wall – simply heal after the electric field is turned off, allowing the modified cells to survive.
Orbio-E technology causes irreversible electroporation, going beyond the effects of typical, temporary cell poration. Orbio-E is a novel, non-chemical mechanism. On hard surfaces, it disrupts and kills bacterial cells, which may cause harmful infections. Quantitative laboratory tests also show that Orbio-E inactivates important pathogenic viruses such as influenza.
Orbio-E uses only water and very small amounts of electrical energy to deliver impressive antimicrobial performance. Additional important benefits of this breakthrough technology include improved sustainability, reduced environmental footprint, and reduced hazards from the potential misuse of chemical (cleaning) products.
Staph without spray
Orbio Technologies is conducting detailed studies to optimise this technology. One recent study investigated Orbio-E effects using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The images show representative Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria without applying (control) and after applying Orbio-E technology in a two-second spray. Bacteria cell walls are clearly compromised when treated with Orbio-E.
Activeion says the technology has no measurable detriment on skin or eyes when ingested or inhaled.
Orbio Technologies Group is currently forming a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), comprised of external technical experts, which will advise Orbio on broad scientific matters and review the quality of scientific and technical research.
The discovery of Orbio-E follows Tennant Company’s introduction of its Orbio ec-H2O chemical-free cleaning technology. The technology begins as water and ends as water, so it can be handled and disposed of easily and safely.
