Combatting Infectious Diseases: FendX's Nanotechnology Innovations in Surface Protection

Infection Control Today's Infection Intel: Staying Ahead With Company Updates and Product Innovations.

Due to climate change and other environmental factors, disease-carrying organisms are moving to new areas. Additionally, travel has made it easier for infections to spread rapidly. Therefore, as the US is in the middle of cold and influenza season and continues to see a rise in COVID-19 cases, it is crucial to take measures to prevent the spread of viruses and infectious diseases.

To learn more about a possible weapon in the fight against preventing infectious diseases, Infection Control Today® (ICT®) spoke with Carolyn Myers, PhD, MBA, BS, CEO of FendX Technologies, Inc, a nanotechnology company developing surface protection coatings. She explains FendX’s nanotechnology, including REPELWRAP film, the spray formulation, and a possible coating for catheters. ICT and Myers also discuss recent the company’s news releases.

Update: On January 24, 2024, in a press release, FendX Technologies, Inc announced it has entered its third development stage agreement with Dunmore International Corp. for optimizing the scale-up of REPELWRAP film. The nanotechnology company aims to conduct a third manufacturing pilot run to refine the manufacturing process and move closer to real-world environmental testing. The collaboration with Dunmore and McMaster University has been crucial in achieving milestones for the REPELWRAP film. Previous pilot runs confirmed the scalability of the film formulation, suitability for automated manufacturing, and the potential for a one-pass coating process, reducing manufacturing time and supporting process optimization.

Myers explained that the developed film demonstrates exceptional versatility, adhering to various surfaces such as bed rails, handrails, and push doors, including curved ones like doorknobs. In a recent collaboration with McMaster, a spray formulation was licensed, exhibiting similar repellent properties as the film but with added metal ions to eliminate residual bugs on surfaces. Currently in early development, the spray offers the potential for easier application on a broader range of surfaces, including round doorknobs.

“Infection preventionists…know that it's very difficult to control, even if they are using some of the best hygienic practices possible, which, as we know, are still not fail-proof by any means,” Myers told ICT. “Because a lot of what they're using are products that you wipe, and it's only as good as the moment that you clean that surface. Because as soon as you walk away, and it dries, somebody touches that, whatever it is, and they can contaminate it.”

Myers continued: “Where [FendX Technologies] come[s] into play is to be able to help complement the current practices whereby our products are available 24/7, and they instantly repel. They can be complementary to the infectious disease control practices that are currently being used within the health care system and other places outside of health care, potentially even reducing the need to clean facilities as frequently as they claim they do…But the whole idea is not to get rid of, you know, cleaning because you can't. But the whole idea of our products, and where we think we can fit within the health care system, is to be able to complement what they're doing now and improve the infectious disease control rate, which, as much as they say that they're doing this, the rates have not gone down.”

Myers and her team are excited about the progress of the spray they are developing, with a partnership established with nanocomposites for formulation assessment and scale-up efforts. While scaling up a spray presents challenges, the team anticipates overcoming them to meet demand. The spray's application extends beyond high-touch surfaces, opening up possibilities in industries where corrosion resistance is crucial.

In addition to these advancements, a collaborative research agreement has been signed with McMaster to explore coating catheters with the company’s nanotechnology. This innovation addresses issues like blood clots and infections associated with long-term catheter use. Initial research indicates a significant reduction in biofilm formation and blood adhesion on surfaces coated with FendX’s nanotechnology.