Antiviral Properties of UMF’s Polymer Additive Confirmed by Leading CRO

The broad antiviral properties of the Micrillon polymer additive developed by UMF Corp. have been confirmed by well-respected contract research organization (CRO) Integrated Pharma Services. It reported that the Micrillon sheath and core fiber demonstrated “significant antiviral properties against human coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, and human influenza A H1N1 virus in just minutes. Spun into a yarn and knitted into a material, the Micrillon sheath and core fiber also demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy (100% kill) against staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and E. coli 0157:H7,” said the CRO.

The findings have significant implications for numerous applications, including various yarn types for woven and knitted textiles such as towels, privacy curtains, and personal protective equipment (PPE), said UMF.

“The results are a testament to our commitment to researching and developing high-performance products for infection prevention and commercial cleaning and disinfection,” commented UMF Corp. CEO George Clarke. “There are significant implications for industries including healthcare — where it can be included in PPE — as well as hospitality and education, which are more focused than ever before on infection prevention in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We plan to incorporate Micrillon splittable bi-component microfiber in all our PerfectCLEAN products later this year.”

The company’s PerfectCLEAN line comprises non-chemical antimicrobial microdenier fiber products developed for the healthcare and hospitality industries to block the spread of contaminants. The patented cleaning products feature built-in antimicrobial protection generated by the fabric’s structure.

UMF’s Micrillon is a rechargeable, broad spectrum, polymer additive that can be incorporated into films, plastics, and fibers, and charged with chlorine molecules. The Micrillon chemistry recharges for the life of the product, and will not leach into the environment, according to UMF. The first Micrillon product — the C-PULL for healthcare privacy curtains — was introduced in 2019. In this case, Micrillon was incorporated into a high-performance fiber made by Tennessee-based Universal Fiber Systems. Additional fibers, including a 50% polyester/50% polyamide hollow-core segmented pie has been developed and is currently being tested. Antiviral efficacy testing was conducted based on ISO 18184:2019: Determination of Antiviral Activity of Textile Products.

“We conducted antimicrobial efficacy testing of Micrillon in our laboratory and I am pleased to announce the results demonstrated that it was effective against influenza and coronavirus strains when challenged at 10, 30, and 120 minutes,” said Dr. Mina Izadjoo, President and Chief Science Officer of Integrated Pharma Services. “We are preparing a manuscript on the results of the Micrillon antimicrobial studies for submission to peer-reviewed journals.”

Integrated Pharma Services is currently conducting additional tests of new Micrillon fibers, including Micrillon 50% PET/50% PA bi-component splittable hollow-core filament that separates into 16 triangular fibers and a 4-DG Micrillon fiber.