Si-Quat from AFFIX Labs is a versatile antiviral surface treatment with scientifically proven months-long durability on any surface materials and textiles that effectively kills the COVID-19 pathogen on contact.
AFFIX Labs, leaders in bonding chemistry, have drawn on their global experience in disease prevention to develop the first durable and reliable surface treatment to combat the COVID-19 pathogen. Si-Quat combines a safe and proven disinfectant with a proprietary chemical binding technique that enables the agent to incapacitate viruses including SARS-COV-2. Tests at the Institute of Biochemistry at the University of Lisbon have proven that Si-Quat effectively kills the COVID-19 pathogen on contact.
"Tragedies are taking place around the world, affecting individual countries to varying degrees. There are currently second waves of COVID-19 on the horizon," says Tom Sam, CEO of AFFIX Labs. "Our long-lasting surface treatment is an accessible solution that can be used in all crops. By killing the COVID-19 pathogen on surfaces before it can infect humans, Si-Quat represents a breakthrough in the fight against this pandemic - with the potential to provide safety and reassurance to the public and businesses alike.
Si-Quat has been tested to kill 99.99% of microbes and is still safe to touch. With a proven efficacy of approximately one month on frequently touched surfaces, this is the most durable antiviral surface treatment on the market to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. The product is non-corrosive, free of silver salts and heavy metal nanoparticles and completely touch-safe.
Quaternary ammonium, the main ingredient in Si-Quat, is already recognized as an effective surface treatment agent against the new coronavirus by several renowned agencies worldwide, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the American Chemical Council (ACC) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
Si-Quat was created in January 2020 by AFFIX Labs' Repeltec development team specifically to help combat the COVID-19 outbreak. The product is based on quaternary ammonium as a reliable and safe disinfectant, which is chemically bound in the formulation to align silane quaternary ammonium molecules (silane quats) in a highly effective way. Positively charged nitrogen particles then actively attract viruses and bacteria, penetrating their envelope and killing them within minutes.
Thorough testing has shown that Si-Quat adheres to almost any surface, making it the most durable surface treatment currently commercially available. The applied solution forms an incredibly tough layer that only wears off surfaces after thousands of touches or multiple cleaning cycles. This means that Si-Quat remains effective for around a month on high-traffic surfaces such as door handles or counters. On less frequently touched surfaces, such as walls, the protection can last for years. The product is extremely easy to apply. Service personnel require minimal training and basic protective equipment. Si-Quat is simply brushed or sprayed on and left to dry for six hours.
"Other disinfectant solutions have to be refreshed several times a day, which disrupts business operations," Sam emphasizes. "At a time when many businesses are struggling to survive anyway, this causes additional costs and downtime. Thanks to its proven efficacy, safety and longevity, Si-Quat is establishing itself as a significant weapon in the fight against the spread of COVID-19."
AFFIX Labs has now started distributing Si-Quat worldwide. New regions are being added every week.
The company is currently looking for distribution partners in local markets. The project that led to the development of Si-Quat was funded in part by Horizon 2020, the framework program for research and innovation of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
