MAP-1: An Innovative Weapon To Fight Against Covid-19.

Video Source: TRT World

“Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments, and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID‑19 and accelerate the return of everyday life.”

A team of researchers and scientists at the HKUST (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) accomplished a breakthrough in combating Covid-10 by developing MAP-1 (Multilevel Antimicrobial Polymer) coating that is believed to impart “significant” protection for 90 days from bacteria and viruses responsible for causing the COVID-19. This coating is effective in killing spores, bacteria, and viruses and took 10 years in leaping from ideation to the development stage. 

Intriguingly, this coating can be sprayed on surfaces that are frequently used by the public, like handrails and elevator buttons. One of the chief researchers of HKUST, Adjunct Professor Joseph Kwan, stated that the coating that forms after spraying has millions of nano-capsules featuring disinfectants that are effective in destroying bacteria, viruses, and spores even after the coating has dried.

Kwan stated that “In contrast to common disinfecting methods like alcohol and diluted bleach, MAP-1 is further boosted by heat-sensitive polymers that encapsulate and release disinfectants upon human contact”. The researchers believe that it is non-toxic and safe for the skin and the environment. Germagic, a unit of the university’s industrial partner, Chiaphua Industries Ltd, has made the coating available for commercial purchase. In February, the coating was approved for official and mass consumer use. It already did hit Hong Kong stores in March. The coating’s usage in hospital privacy curtains saw over 98.7% reductions in drug-resistant bacteria in 3 weeks. MAP-1 coating is designed for use on metals, concrete, wood, glass, plastics, fabrics, leathers, and textiles, sans changing the materials’ appearance and tactile feel. 

The university has teamed up with Chiaphua Industries Ltd. to apply the coating in 70 elderly homes, daycare centers, buses, schools, malls, sports facilities, and churches and to combat COVID-19.

From the Editor-in-Chief

Reckoned to disrupt the bio-molecules and microbial envelope, MAP-1 coating featuring a unique combination of antimicrobial polymers has earned massive spurs by thwarting contact by microorganisms while preventing microbial adhesion to surfaces. Developed by a team in the leadership of Professor, Yeung King-Lun (Dept. Of Chemical & Biological Engineering & the division of Environment & Sustainability), the future of MAP-1 seems undisputedly bright.  

Before going ahead with the coating application at such a large scale, MAP-1 coating passed through two field studies that were conducted in the Care and Attention Home named Haven of Hope Woo Ping and Kowloon Hospital to confirm the effectiveness of MAP-1. A staggering 98.7 percent reduction was being observed in drug-resistant bacteria on hospital’s privacy curtains in merely 3 weeks.

The team then began toying with an idea to collaborate with the Drainage Service Department and Water Supplies Department for field tests of this virus-resistant coating for sewage drains and water pipes inactivate microbial contamination and dissuade infrastructure corrosion.Various hospitals including emergency Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan are now leveraging the air purification technology developed by the team of Prof. Yeung owing to the HK$1.5 MM donation meant to distribute antimicrobial air filters.

Prof. Yeung conveyed his heartfelt gratitude stating “Thanks to the long-term support of our industrial partner Chiaphua Industries Ltd, our team can develop MAP-1 as a potent solution for infection control. We ran a seven-month field trial of the coating on privacy partition curtains in a local public hospital and six months study on bed linens in an elderly home, and the results is very encouraging, with the total amount of bacteria reduced by over 99 percent and 95.8 percent on the curtains and ben linens respectively,”.

In May 2018, CIL and HKUST did establish a joint laboratory with the help of funding support from ITC (Innovation and Technology Commission) and CIL. The main aim was to decode the nuances of conceptual research and ideas related to the ground-breaking technologies pertaining to environmental health meant to be translated into tangible products to mainly address societal needs. 

“According to the Technical Standard for Disinfection issued by the National Health Commission in Mainland China, the coating is proven to be non-toxic and is safe for skin and the environment, hence it also allows MAP-1 to be made into hand sanitizers, paints and coating, filter materials for air and water purification, as well as clothing and surgical masks to safeguard the health of the individual and public.” The coating reportedly prevents microbial adhesion on a surface by using the special blend of antimicrobial polymers, effectively killing “99.9% of bacteria and viruses.”

The development of a multilevel antimicrobial and anti-adhesion coating in the form of MAP-1 coating marks the first prominent breakthrough since the inception of ideation.

“I think we will be seeing a lot more of that on the road, and we will also see greater collaboration between engineers, medical professionals and those at pharmaceutical companies and devices companies and we will also see an uptick in the application of data analytics across the board.”

Do not forget to share in the comments what is your take on MAP-1?