Scientists at Hohenstein Institute in Boennigheim, Germany have developed a new textile finish which has antiviral and antibacterial features. This unique technology can be used in products for nurseries, hospitals, child day care centre etc. As a part of the research, scientists from the institute are investigating textile surface which can catch infections due to bacteria or viruses that can be transmitted by hand or air that is the main route for infections. Cleaning surface is therefore an important aspect to prevent any kind of infection.

The test includes cleaning cloths wherein the antibacterial and antiviral properties were combined for functional textile processing. These tests were carried out on different surfaces, such as glass, stainless steel or wood, which were contaminated with viruses and wiped with the finished cleaning cloths. The bacterial virus MS2, a non-pathogenic surrogate virus, which is comparable to clinically relevant viruses such as novovirus, poliovirus, hepatitis A or enteroviruses, was used as the test virus.

The finished microfibre cloths absorbed 91 per cent of the applied viruses, the Institute reports. At the same time, the virus concentration in the cloth was reduced by approximately 90 per cent.

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