Microbiology and Cell Biology Department, Centre for Infectious Disease Research, Division of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India.
Biomoneta Research Private Limited, Bengaluru, India.
J Hosp Infect. 2022 Nov;129:17-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2022.07.021. Epub 2022 Aug 5.
Despite multifactorial evidence, the safe and effective elimination of free-floating micro-organisms remains a significant scientific challenge. ZeBox Technology exploits microbial Zeta Potential, to extract and eliminate them from free-flowing air, using a non-ionizing electric field, in combination with a microbicidal surface.
Evaluation of ZeBox Technology against aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis under controlled conditions.
SARS-CoV-2 and M. tuberculosis H37Ra were used in this study. Individual micro-organisms were aerosolized using a Collison nebulizer inside an air-sealed test chamber. Air samples were collected from the chamber on to a Mixed Cellulose Ester membrane, at various time points, and used for enumeration. SARS-CoV-2 was enumerated using qRT-PCR, while M. tuberculosis H37Ra was quantified using standard microbiological procedures.
We established a viable aerosolized microbial load of ∼10E9 and ∼10E6 for SARS-CoV-2 and M. tuberculosis H37Ra, respectively, inside the test chamber. Under ideal conditions, the floating microbial load was at a steady-state level of 10E9 for SARS-CoV-2 and 10E6 for M. tuberculosis. When the ZeBox-Technology-enabled device was operated, the microbial load reduced significantly. A reduction of ∼10E4.7 was observed for M. tuberculosis, while a reduction of ∼10E7 for SARS-CoV-2 was observed within a short duration. The reduction in airborne SARS-CoV-2 load was qualitatively and quantitatively measured using fluorescence analysis and qRT-PCR methods, respectively.
This validation demonstrates the efficacy of the developed technology against two of the deadliest micro-organisms that claim millions of lives worldwide. In conjunction with the existing reports, the present validation proved the true broad-spectrum elimination capability of ZeBox technology.
尽管有多种因素的证据，但安全有效地消除游离微生物仍然是一个重大的科学挑战。ZeBox 技术利用微生物 Zeta 电位，使用非电离电场结合杀菌表面，从自由流动的空气中提取并消除它们。
在受控条件下评估 ZeBox 技术对气溶胶 SARS-CoV-2 和结核分枝杆菌的作用。
本研究使用 SARS-CoV-2 和结核分枝杆菌 H37Ra。使用 Collison 雾化器在密封的测试室内将单个微生物雾化。在不同时间点，从腔室中采集空气样本到混合纤维素酯膜上，用于计数。使用 qRT-PCR 对 SARS-CoV-2 进行计数，而使用标准微生物学程序对结核分枝杆菌 H37Ra 进行定量。
我们在测试室内建立了 SARS-CoV-2 和结核分枝杆菌 H37Ra 的可行气溶胶微生物负荷分别约为 10E9 和 10E6。在理想条件下，浮游微生物负荷处于 SARS-CoV-2 的稳定水平 10E9 和结核分枝杆菌的 10E6。当 ZeBox 技术启用设备运行时，微生物负荷显著降低。结核分枝杆菌的减少量约为 10E4.7，而 SARS-CoV-2 的减少量在短时间内约为 10E7。使用荧光分析和 qRT-PCR 方法分别定性和定量测量了空气中 SARS-CoV-2 负荷的减少。
该验证证明了该技术针对两种在全球范围内夺走数百万人生命的最致命微生物的有效性。结合现有报告，本验证证明了 ZeBox 技术真正的广谱消除能力。
