WO2023114448A1 - Porous polymer substrates and coatings for common surfaces - Google Patents

Porous polymer substrates and coatings for common surfaces Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023114448A1
WO2023114448A1 PCT/US2022/053100 US2022053100W WO2023114448A1 WO 2023114448 A1 WO2023114448 A1 WO 2023114448A1 US 2022053100 W US2022053100 W US 2022053100W WO 2023114448 A1 WO2023114448 A1 WO 2023114448A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
porous polymer
coating
support layer
layer
pores
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2022/053100
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French (fr)
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WO2023114448A9 (en
Inventor
Nabil Lawandy
Original Assignee
Spectra Systems Corporation
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US17/553,422 external-priority patent/US20220184991A1/en
Application filed by Spectra Systems Corporation filed Critical Spectra Systems Corporation
Publication of WO2023114448A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023114448A1/en
Publication of WO2023114448A9 publication Critical patent/WO2023114448A9/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/32—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyolefins
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/32—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyolefins
    • B32B27/322—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyolefins comprising halogenated polyolefins, e.g. PTFE
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/36—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyesters
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B3/00—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form
    • B32B3/26—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer
    • B32B3/30—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B7/00—Layered products characterised by the relation between layers; Layered products characterised by the relative orientation of features between layers, or by the relative values of a measurable parameter between layers, i.e. products comprising layers having different physical, chemical or physicochemical properties; Layered products characterised by the interconnection of layers
    • B32B7/02—Physical, chemical or physicochemical properties
    • B32B7/023—Optical properties
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2255/00—Coating on the layer surface
    • B32B2255/10—Coating on the layer surface on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
    • B32B2307/50—Properties of the layers or laminate having particular mechanical properties
    • B32B2307/514—Oriented
    • B32B2307/518—Oriented bi-axially
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
    • B32B2307/70—Other properties
    • B32B2307/732—Dimensional properties
    • B32B2307/737—Dimensions, e.g. volume or area
    • B32B2307/7375—Linear, e.g. length, distance or width
    • B32B2307/7376—Thickness

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to porous polymer substrates and coatings . More particularly, the present invention relates to porous polymer substrates and coatings for use on common surfaces .
  • the liquid of droplets disposed thereon are not taken in or absorbed by the surface material , thereby sitting on the surfaces for long periods of time .
  • Such droplets may contain bacteria and viruses , such as COVID- 19/SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola, which survive for longer periods of time due to the hydration and mechanical protection from fluid flow provided by the stationary droplet .
  • Both COVID- 19/SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola have been shown to survive for several days on non-porous surfaces including polymer banknotes , which is the likely result of promoting and sustaining a water-based environment around the virus and its spike protein, for example .
  • Porous surfaces or items such as paper banknotes , have exhibited shorter viral deactivation times , which is believed to be due to the ability of the porous surfaces or items to drain water away from the droplet , leaving the virus to ultimately change its structure and become deactivated . Therefore , there is a need for a substrate or coating having a porosity suf ficient to achieve enhanced bacterial and viral deactivation .
  • the invention features a multilayered structure including a support layer and at least one porous polymer layer or coating including at least one porous polymer, said at least one porous polymer layer or coating disposed on the support layer, where the at least one porous polymer layer or coating has pores or channels si zed to permit water to enter the pores or channels and si zed to prevent one or more viruses or bacteria from entering the pores or channels .
  • the at least one porous polymer may include one or more of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE ) , polyethylene terephthalate ( PET ) , and biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP ) .
  • the support layer may be a railing, a lavatory surface , a table , or a countertop .
  • the pores or channels may have an ef fective hydrodynamic pore si ze of less than 200 nm, including an ef fective hydrodynamic pore si ze of 100 nm .
  • the at least one porous polymer layer or coating may have a thickness of 100 microns or approximately 100 microns .
  • Information in the form of shape ( s ) , text lettering, or image ( s ) may be printed on a side of the support layer that is disposed in contact with the at least one porous polymer layer or coating .
  • the index of refraction of the at least one porous polymer layer or coating may be approximately the same or the same as the index of refraction of the support layer such that the information printed on the support layer is vis ible through the at least one porous polymer layer or coating .
  • the at least one porous polymer layer or coating may consist of two porous polymer layers or coatings disposed on opposing sides of the support layer .
  • the index of refraction of each of the two porous polymer layers or coatings may be approximately the same or the same as the index of refraction of the support layer such that the information printed on the support layer is visible through each of the two porous polymer layers or coatings .
  • the invention features a method of disinfection including providing a multi-layered structure including a support layer and at least one porous polymer layer or coating including at least one porous polymer, said at least one porous polymer layer or coating disposed on the support layer, where the at least one porous polymer layer or coating has pores or channels si zed to permit water to enter the pores or channels and si zed to prevent one or more viruses or bacteria from entering the pores or channels ; depositing at least one droplet of water containing one or more viruses or bacteria on a surface of the multi-layered structure ; and permitting water of the at least one droplet of water to enter the pores or channels of the at least one porous polymer layer or coating such that the one or more viruses or bacteria of the at least one droplet of water remain on the surface of the multi-layered structure and become deactivated .
  • the at least one porous polymer may include one or more of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE ) , polyethylene terephthalate ( PET ) , and biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP ) .
  • the support layer may be a railing, a lavatory surface , a table , or a countertop .
  • the pores or channels may have an ef fective hydrodynamic pore si ze of less than 200 nm, including an ef fective hydrodynamic pore si ze of 100 nm .
  • the at least one porous polymer layer or coating may have a thickness of 100 microns or approximately 100 microns .
  • Information in the form of shape ( s ) , text lettering, or image ( s ) may be printed on a side of the support layer that is disposed in contact with the at least one porous polymer layer or coating .
  • the index of refraction of the at least one porous polymer layer or coating may be approximately the same or the same as the index of refraction of the support layer such that the information printed on the support layer is vis ible through the at least one porous polymer layer or coating .
  • the at least one porous polymer layer or coating may consist of two porous polymer layers or coatings disposed on opposing sides of the support layer .
  • the index of refraction of each of the two porous polymer layers or coatings may be approximately the same or the same as the index of refraction of the support layer such that the information printed on the support layer is visible through each of the two porous polymer layers or coatings .
  • Fig . 1A is a diagram of a multi-layered composite structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig . IB is a diagram of a multi-layered composite structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig . 2 is a comparison of illustrations showing the activity of virus-containing droplets on typical non-porous polymer substrates and porous polymer substrates of the present invention at various points in time;
  • Fig. 3 shows several images of a porous polymer substrate of the present invention and its response to a phosphor-containing droplet disposed thereon;
  • Fig. 4 shows several images of a porous polymer substrate of the present invention and its response to a phosphor-containing droplet disposed thereon;
  • Fig. 5 shows an image of a non-porous polymer substrate and its response to a phosphor-containing droplet disposed thereon
  • Fig. 6 shows a comparison among different surfaces or items, namely banknotes including Canadian dollars, Indian rupees, and U.S. dollars, concerning the survival time of the SARS- CoV-2 virus thereon;
  • Fig. 7 shows a comparison among different surfaces or items, namely banknotes including Canadian dollars, Indian rupees, and U.S. dollars, concerning the survival time of the Ebola virus thereon; and
  • Fig. 8 shows a comparison among different surfaces or items, namely polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hydrophilic membranes having different pore sizes, concerning the survival time of the SARS-CoV-2 virus thereon.
  • PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
  • the present invention is directed to porous polymer substrates and coatings, such as for use on common surfaces.
  • the substrates and coatings of the present invention may serve a bio-protective function, particularly for rapid viral and bacterial deactivation of common surfaces.
  • the substrates and coatings of the present invention utilize polymers having sufficiently sized pores in such substrates and coatings, such polymers including but not limited to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) , polyethylene terephthalate (PET) , biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) , and the like.
  • Common surfaces include but are not limited to railings, lavatory areas, tables, countertops, and the like.
  • the common surface is coated with a coating having an approximate thickness of 100 microns.
  • a virus may be deactivated overnight, for significantly safe mass public use the next day.
  • the polymers are selected as having high porosity with channels sized to permit water to permeate the surface, but not the relevant virus or bacterium. In doing so, water from a droplet containing the virus or bacterium is taken in or absorbed by the substrate or coating, which leaves the virus or bacterium in a water-free environment on the surface, resulting in viral or bacterial deactivation.
  • an effective hydrodynamic pore size of less than 200 nm is required to deactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
  • a multilayered composite structure including an underlying layer that acts as a support or substrate for an additional layer or layers.
  • the multi-layered structure is a three-layer structure including a middle support layer and porous polymer substrates or coatings provided on opposite sides of the middle support layer, the porous polymer substrates or coatings being composed of either the same or a different polymer.
  • the multi-layered structure is a two-layer structure including a support layer and a porous polymer substrate or coating provided on one side of the support layer.
  • material may be printed on top or below the support layer, such printed material including shapes, text lettering, or images.
  • index-matching aspects may be employed in connection with this multi-layered structure embodiment such that printed material on the support layer is visible through the porous polymer substrate/coating due to the index of refraction of the support layer material being the same or substantially the same as the index of refraction of the porous polymer substrate/coating .
  • Fig . 2 illustrates activity over time of a viruscontaining droplet (i . e . , active virus in hydrated environment ) on a non-porous polymer substrate and a porous polymer substrate .
  • a viruscontaining droplet i . e . , active virus in hydrated environment
  • the droplet sits on the surface of the substrate for an extended period, unable to be taken in or absorbed by the non-porous polymer substrate . Accordingly, the virus remains active on the surface for a long period of time due to the maintained hydrated environment .
  • water from the virus-containing droplet is taken in or absorbed by the porous polymer substrate , which may occur over the course of a few seconds , leaving the virus behind on the surface .
  • the virus is deactivated as a result of the loss of the hydrated environment .
  • deactivation is due to both dehydration as well as fluid flow forces associated with the draining into the substrate , which can af fect the relatively delicate viral encapsulation and surface proteins .
  • Figs . 3-4 provide respective sets of images illustrating porous polymer substrates of the present invention upon disposition of a phosphor-containing droplet thereon .
  • Phosphors are selected to mimic the activity of viruses in a hydrated environment .
  • the porous polymer substrate of Fig . 3 has a pore si ze of 10 microns
  • the porous polymer substrate of Fig . 4 has a pore si ze of 1 micron . Both sets of images demonstrate similar activity of the porous polymer substrates.
  • the substrate Prior to the disposition of the phosphor-containing droplet on the porous polymer substrate, the substrate is substantially opaque; this is the result of light passing through the porous polymer substrate refracting and scattering at each boundary between air in the pores and the polymer material (which has a higher index of refraction, e.g., 1.35, than that of air) .
  • those portions of the substrate in which the pores are filled with water may have an index of refraction close to or matching that of the polymer material (e.g., the index of refraction of water is 1.33) , and thus have a higher clarity or transparency due to less refracting and scattering of light passing through the substrate and at the boundaries between water-filled pores and the polymer.
  • the phosphor is left on the surface of the substrate and is not taken in or absorbed by the pores of the porous polymer substrate.
  • the substrate returns to its initial opacity as water is drawn away from the pores of the porous polymer substrate, e.g., by evaporation or sublimation, with the phosphor remaining on the surface of the substrate.
  • SARS-CoV-2 is 80 nm in diameter.
  • the droplet remains on the surface of the substrate and its water is not taken in or absorbed by the substrate, resulting in the droplet remaining hydrated.
  • Figs. 6-7 present evidence of the survival time of the SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola viruses on various surfaces or items, namely banknotes including Canadian dollars, Indian rupees, and U.S. dollars. While Indian rupees and U.S. dollars are paper-based currency, Canadian dollars are non-porous polymer- based currency. 100 microliters of the relevant virus (SARS- CoV-2 p6 or EBOV p4) were added to the banknotes in duplicate. A plaque assay was utilized to determine virus titer. The measurement time points (+ / - 10 minutes) were 0 hours, 16 hours, 24 hours, 40 hours, 48 hours, and 60 hours. As shown with respect to both the SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola viruses, such viruses survived far longer on Canadian dollars than on both Indian rupees and U.S. dollars.
  • Fig. 8 presents evidence of the survival time of the SARS- CoV-2 virus on various surfaces or items, namely hydrophilic PTFE membranes of varying pore size.
  • 100 microliters of solution containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus were added to the membranes in duplicate.
  • a plaque assay was utilized to determine virus titer.
  • the data shows that pore size of the porous polymer membrane can dramatically affect life of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
  • Utilization of the 100 nm pore size membrane resulted in full inactivation or complete trapping of the virus to prevent elution into solutions used to test for presence of the active virus.
  • the 200 nm pore size membrane also provided remarkable protection against the virus, while membranes having intermediate pores sizes, such as 450 nm and 1, 000 nm (1 micron) , had inactivation effects comparable to membranes with the largest pore size of 10 microns. This behavior may be due to competing effects of lower relative humidity in small pores and protective mechanisms as well. In addition, hydrodynamic forces of wicking into the membranes may cause the destruction or inactivation of spike proteins in the SARS-CoV-2 virus surface .

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Abstract

A multi-layered structure and an associated method of disinfection, the multi-layered structure including a support layer and at least one porous polymer layer or coating including at least one porous polymer, said at least one porous polymer layer or coating disposed on the support layer, where the at least one porous polymer layer or coating has pores or channels sized to permit water to enter the pores or channels and sized to prevent one or more viruses or bacteria from entering the pores or channels.

Description

PCT INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION
FOR
POROUS POLYMER SUBSTRATES AND COATINGS FOR COMMON SURFACES
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
The present application claims priority to U . S . provisional application Serial No . 63/290 , 331 , filed December 16 , 2021 , and is a continuation-in-part application of U . S . non-provisional application Serial No . 17 /553 , 422 , filed December 16 , 2021 , the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety .
Technical Field
The present invention relates to porous polymer substrates and coatings . More particularly, the present invention relates to porous polymer substrates and coatings for use on common surfaces .
Background of the Invention
For non-porous common surfaces , the liquid of droplets disposed thereon are not taken in or absorbed by the surface material , thereby sitting on the surfaces for long periods of time . Such droplets may contain bacteria and viruses , such as COVID- 19/SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola, which survive for longer periods of time due to the hydration and mechanical protection from fluid flow provided by the stationary droplet . Both COVID- 19/SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola have been shown to survive for several days on non-porous surfaces including polymer banknotes , which is the likely result of promoting and sustaining a water-based environment around the virus and its spike protein, for example . Porous surfaces or items , such as paper banknotes , have exhibited shorter viral deactivation times , which is believed to be due to the ability of the porous surfaces or items to drain water away from the droplet , leaving the virus to ultimately change its structure and become deactivated . Therefore , there is a need for a substrate or coating having a porosity suf ficient to achieve enhanced bacterial and viral deactivation .
Summary of the Invention
In general , in one aspect , the invention features a multilayered structure including a support layer and at least one porous polymer layer or coating including at least one porous polymer, said at least one porous polymer layer or coating disposed on the support layer, where the at least one porous polymer layer or coating has pores or channels si zed to permit water to enter the pores or channels and si zed to prevent one or more viruses or bacteria from entering the pores or channels .
Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features . The at least one porous polymer may include one or more of polytetrafluoroethylene ( PTFE ) , polyethylene terephthalate ( PET ) , and biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP ) . The support layer may be a railing, a lavatory surface , a table , or a countertop . The pores or channels may have an ef fective hydrodynamic pore si ze of less than 200 nm, including an ef fective hydrodynamic pore si ze of 100 nm . The at least one porous polymer layer or coating may have a thickness of 100 microns or approximately 100 microns .
Information in the form of shape ( s ) , text lettering, or image ( s ) may be printed on a side of the support layer that is disposed in contact with the at least one porous polymer layer or coating . The index of refraction of the at least one porous polymer layer or coating may be approximately the same or the same as the index of refraction of the support layer such that the information printed on the support layer is vis ible through the at least one porous polymer layer or coating . The at least one porous polymer layer or coating may consist of two porous polymer layers or coatings disposed on opposing sides of the support layer . The index of refraction of each of the two porous polymer layers or coatings may be approximately the same or the same as the index of refraction of the support layer such that the information printed on the support layer is visible through each of the two porous polymer layers or coatings .
In general , in another aspect , the invention features a method of disinfection including providing a multi-layered structure including a support layer and at least one porous polymer layer or coating including at least one porous polymer, said at least one porous polymer layer or coating disposed on the support layer, where the at least one porous polymer layer or coating has pores or channels si zed to permit water to enter the pores or channels and si zed to prevent one or more viruses or bacteria from entering the pores or channels ; depositing at least one droplet of water containing one or more viruses or bacteria on a surface of the multi-layered structure ; and permitting water of the at least one droplet of water to enter the pores or channels of the at least one porous polymer layer or coating such that the one or more viruses or bacteria of the at least one droplet of water remain on the surface of the multi-layered structure and become deactivated .
Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features . The at least one porous polymer may include one or more of polytetrafluoroethylene ( PTFE ) , polyethylene terephthalate ( PET ) , and biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP ) . The support layer may be a railing, a lavatory surface , a table , or a countertop . The pores or channels may have an ef fective hydrodynamic pore si ze of less than 200 nm, including an ef fective hydrodynamic pore si ze of 100 nm . The at least one porous polymer layer or coating may have a thickness of 100 microns or approximately 100 microns .
Information in the form of shape ( s ) , text lettering, or image ( s ) may be printed on a side of the support layer that is disposed in contact with the at least one porous polymer layer or coating . The index of refraction of the at least one porous polymer layer or coating may be approximately the same or the same as the index of refraction of the support layer such that the information printed on the support layer is vis ible through the at least one porous polymer layer or coating . The at least one porous polymer layer or coating may consist of two porous polymer layers or coatings disposed on opposing sides of the support layer . The index of refraction of each of the two porous polymer layers or coatings may be approximately the same or the same as the index of refraction of the support layer such that the information printed on the support layer is visible through each of the two porous polymer layers or coatings .
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig . 1A is a diagram of a multi-layered composite structure according to one embodiment of the present invention;
Fig . IB is a diagram of a multi-layered composite structure according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Fig . 2 is a comparison of illustrations showing the activity of virus-containing droplets on typical non-porous polymer substrates and porous polymer substrates of the present invention at various points in time;
Fig. 3 shows several images of a porous polymer substrate of the present invention and its response to a phosphor-containing droplet disposed thereon;
Fig. 4 shows several images of a porous polymer substrate of the present invention and its response to a phosphor-containing droplet disposed thereon;
Fig. 5 shows an image of a non-porous polymer substrate and its response to a phosphor-containing droplet disposed thereon; Fig. 6 shows a comparison among different surfaces or items, namely banknotes including Canadian dollars, Indian rupees, and U.S. dollars, concerning the survival time of the SARS- CoV-2 virus thereon;
Fig. 7 shows a comparison among different surfaces or items, namely banknotes including Canadian dollars, Indian rupees, and U.S. dollars, concerning the survival time of the Ebola virus thereon; and
Fig. 8 shows a comparison among different surfaces or items, namely polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hydrophilic membranes having different pore sizes, concerning the survival time of the SARS-CoV-2 virus thereon.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The present invention is directed to porous polymer substrates and coatings, such as for use on common surfaces. The substrates and coatings of the present invention may serve a bio-protective function, particularly for rapid viral and bacterial deactivation of common surfaces. The substrates and coatings of the present invention utilize polymers having sufficiently sized pores in such substrates and coatings, such polymers including but not limited to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) , polyethylene terephthalate (PET) , biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) , and the like. Common surfaces include but are not limited to railings, lavatory areas, tables, countertops, and the like. In one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the common surface is coated with a coating having an approximate thickness of 100 microns. In this example, a virus may be deactivated overnight, for significantly safe mass public use the next day. The polymers are selected as having high porosity with channels sized to permit water to permeate the surface, but not the relevant virus or bacterium. In doing so, water from a droplet containing the virus or bacterium is taken in or absorbed by the substrate or coating, which leaves the virus or bacterium in a water-free environment on the surface, resulting in viral or bacterial deactivation. By way of example, an effective hydrodynamic pore size of less than 200 nm is required to deactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a multilayered composite structure including an underlying layer that acts as a support or substrate for an additional layer or layers. In one example, shown in Fig. 1A, the multi-layered structure is a three-layer structure including a middle support layer and porous polymer substrates or coatings provided on opposite sides of the middle support layer, the porous polymer substrates or coatings being composed of either the same or a different polymer. In another example, shown in Fig. IB, the multi-layered structure is a two-layer structure including a support layer and a porous polymer substrate or coating provided on one side of the support layer. In these embodiments, material may be printed on top or below the support layer, such printed material including shapes, text lettering, or images. Different printed material may be provided on opposite sides of the support layer . Finally, index-matching aspects may be employed in connection with this multi-layered structure embodiment such that printed material on the support layer is visible through the porous polymer substrate/coating due to the index of refraction of the support layer material being the same or substantially the same as the index of refraction of the porous polymer substrate/coating .
Fig . 2 illustrates activity over time of a viruscontaining droplet ( i . e . , active virus in hydrated environment ) on a non-porous polymer substrate and a porous polymer substrate . For the non-porous polymer substrate , the droplet sits on the surface of the substrate for an extended period, unable to be taken in or absorbed by the non-porous polymer substrate . Accordingly, the virus remains active on the surface for a long period of time due to the maintained hydrated environment . For the porous polymer substrate , water from the virus-containing droplet is taken in or absorbed by the porous polymer substrate , which may occur over the course of a few seconds , leaving the virus behind on the surface . Consequently, the virus is deactivated as a result of the loss of the hydrated environment . In particular, deactivation is due to both dehydration as well as fluid flow forces associated with the draining into the substrate , which can af fect the relatively delicate viral encapsulation and surface proteins .
Figs . 3-4 provide respective sets of images illustrating porous polymer substrates of the present invention upon disposition of a phosphor-containing droplet thereon . Phosphors are selected to mimic the activity of viruses in a hydrated environment . The porous polymer substrate of Fig . 3 has a pore si ze of 10 microns , while the porous polymer substrate of Fig . 4 has a pore si ze of 1 micron . Both sets of images demonstrate similar activity of the porous polymer substrates. Prior to the disposition of the phosphor-containing droplet on the porous polymer substrate, the substrate is substantially opaque; this is the result of light passing through the porous polymer substrate refracting and scattering at each boundary between air in the pores and the polymer material (which has a higher index of refraction, e.g., 1.35, than that of air) . When the droplet is placed on the substrate and water is taken in or absorbed by the pores, those portions of the substrate in which the pores are filled with water may have an index of refraction close to or matching that of the polymer material (e.g., the index of refraction of water is 1.33) , and thus have a higher clarity or transparency due to less refracting and scattering of light passing through the substrate and at the boundaries between water-filled pores and the polymer. The phosphor is left on the surface of the substrate and is not taken in or absorbed by the pores of the porous polymer substrate. The substrate returns to its initial opacity as water is drawn away from the pores of the porous polymer substrate, e.g., by evaporation or sublimation, with the phosphor remaining on the surface of the substrate. Compare Figs. 3-4 with Fig. 5, in which a phosphor-containing polymer nanosphere (D = 100 nm) droplet is disposed on a non-porous polymer substrate. Note that SARS-CoV-2 is 80 nm in diameter. In this example, the droplet remains on the surface of the substrate and its water is not taken in or absorbed by the substrate, resulting in the droplet remaining hydrated.
Figs. 6-7 present evidence of the survival time of the SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola viruses on various surfaces or items, namely banknotes including Canadian dollars, Indian rupees, and U.S. dollars. While Indian rupees and U.S. dollars are paper-based currency, Canadian dollars are non-porous polymer- based currency. 100 microliters of the relevant virus (SARS- CoV-2 p6 or EBOV p4) were added to the banknotes in duplicate. A plaque assay was utilized to determine virus titer. The measurement time points (+ / - 10 minutes) were 0 hours, 16 hours, 24 hours, 40 hours, 48 hours, and 60 hours. As shown with respect to both the SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola viruses, such viruses survived far longer on Canadian dollars than on both Indian rupees and U.S. dollars.
Fig. 8 presents evidence of the survival time of the SARS- CoV-2 virus on various surfaces or items, namely hydrophilic PTFE membranes of varying pore size. 100 microliters of solution containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus were added to the membranes in duplicate. A plaque assay was utilized to determine virus titer. The data shows that pore size of the porous polymer membrane can dramatically affect life of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Utilization of the 100 nm pore size membrane resulted in full inactivation or complete trapping of the virus to prevent elution into solutions used to test for presence of the active virus. The 200 nm pore size membrane also provided remarkable protection against the virus, while membranes having intermediate pores sizes, such as 450 nm and 1, 000 nm (1 micron) , had inactivation effects comparable to membranes with the largest pore size of 10 microns. This behavior may be due to competing effects of lower relative humidity in small pores and protective mechanisms as well. In addition, hydrodynamic forces of wicking into the membranes may cause the destruction or inactivation of spike proteins in the SARS-CoV-2 virus surface .
The embodiments and examples above are illustrative, and many variations can be introduced to them without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative and exemplary embodiments herein may be combined with each other and/or substituted with each other within the scope of this disclosure . The obj ects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characteri ze the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure . For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the speci fic obj ects attained by its uses , reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention .

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:
1. A multi-layered structure comprising: a support layer; and at least one porous polymer layer or coating comprising at least one porous polymer, said at least one porous polymer layer or coating disposed on the support layer, wherein the at least one porous polymer layer or coating has pores or channels sized to permit water to enter the pores or channels, and sized to prevent one or more viruses or bacteria from entering the pores or channels.
2. The multi-layered structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one porous polymer comprises one or more of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) , polyethylene terephthalate (PET) , and biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) .
3. The multi-layered structure of claim 1, wherein the support layer is a railing, a lavatory surface, a table, or a countertop .
4. The multi-layered structure of claim 1, wherein the pores or channels have an effective hydrodynamic pore size of less than 200 nm.
5. The multi-layered structure of claim 4, wherein the pores or channels have an effective hydrodynamic pore size of 100 nm.
6 . The multi-layered structure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one porous polymer layer or coating has a thickness of 100 microns or approximately 100 microns .
7 . The multi-layered structure of claim 1 , wherein information in the form of shape ( s ) , text lettering, or image ( s ) is printed on a side of the support layer that is disposed in contact with the at least one porous polymer layer or coating .
8 . The multi-layered structure of claim 7 , wherein the index of refraction of the at least one porous polymer layer or coating is approximately the same or the same as the index of refraction of the support layer such that the information printed on the support layer is visible through the at least one porous polymer layer or coating .
9 . The multi-layered structure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one porous polymer layer or coating consi sts of two porous polymer layers or coatings disposed on opposing sides of the support layer .
10 . The multi-layered structure of claim 9 , wherein the index of refraction of each of the two porous polymer layers or coatings is approximately the same or the same as the index of refraction of the support layer such that the information printed on the support layer is visible through each of the two porous polymer layers or coatings .
11 . A method of disinfection, comprising : providing a multi-layered structure compris ing : a support layer ; and at least one porous polymer layer or coating comprising at least one porous polymer, said at least one porous polymer layer or coating disposed on the support layer, wherein the at least one porous polymer layer or coating has pores or channels si zed to permit water to enter the pores or channels , and si zed to prevent one or more viruses or bacteria from entering the pores or channels ; depositing at least one droplet of water containing one or more viruses or bacteria on a surface of the multi-layered structure ; and permitting water of the at least one droplet of water to enter the pores or channels of the at least one porous polymer layer or coating such that the one or more viruses or bacteria of the at least one droplet of water remain on the surface of the multi-layered structure and become deactivated .
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one porous polymer comprises one or more of polytetrafluoroethylene ( PTFE ) , polyethylene terephthalate ( PET ) , and biaxially- oriented polypropylene (BOPP ) .
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the support layer is a railing, a lavatory surface , a table , or a countertop .
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the pores or channels have an ef fective hydrodynamic pore size of less than 200 nm .
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the pores or channels have an ef fective hydrodynamic pore size of 100 nm .
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one porous polymer layer or coating has a thickness of 100 microns or approximately 100 microns .
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein information in the form of shape ( s ) , text lettering, or image ( s ) is printed on a side of the support layer that is disposed in contact with the at least one porous polymer layer or coating .
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the index of refraction of the at least one porous polymer layer or coating is approximately the same or the same as the index of refraction of the support layer such that the information printed on the support layer is visible through the at least one porous polymer layer or coating .
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one porous polymer layer or coating consists of two porous polymer layers or coatings disposed on opposing sides of the support layer .
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the index of refraction of each of the two porous polymer layers or coatings is approximately the same or the same as the index of refraction of the support layer such that the information printed on the support layer is vis ible through each of the two porous polymer layers or coatings .
PCT/US2022/053100 2021-12-16 2022-12-16 Porous polymer substrates and coatings for common surfaces WO2023114448A1 (en)

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Citations (4)

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US20100096317A1 (en) * 2007-07-03 2010-04-22 Sumitomo Electric Fine Polymer, Inc. Flat sheet membrane element for filtration and flat sheet membrane filtration module
US20150258835A1 (en) * 2012-09-03 2015-09-17 Ovd Kinegram Ag Security Element and Security Document
WO2021246026A1 (en) * 2020-06-05 2021-12-09 株式会社エナジーフロント Coating film and article with coating film formed on surface
US20220184991A1 (en) * 2020-12-16 2022-06-16 Spectra Systems Corporation Porous polymer substrates and coatings for banknotes and other security articles

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20100096317A1 (en) * 2007-07-03 2010-04-22 Sumitomo Electric Fine Polymer, Inc. Flat sheet membrane element for filtration and flat sheet membrane filtration module
US20150258835A1 (en) * 2012-09-03 2015-09-17 Ovd Kinegram Ag Security Element and Security Document
WO2021246026A1 (en) * 2020-06-05 2021-12-09 株式会社エナジーフロント Coating film and article with coating film formed on surface
US20220184991A1 (en) * 2020-12-16 2022-06-16 Spectra Systems Corporation Porous polymer substrates and coatings for banknotes and other security articles

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