STTR Phase I: Scaling and Optimizing Manufacturing Methods for Germicidal Optical Fibers (GOF) to prevent disease-causing biofilms in tight channels

这个小型技术转让研究（STTR）第1阶段项目的更广泛影响是推进杀菌光纤（GOF）的开发。GOF侧面沿着它们的整个长度像荧光棒一样发射紫外线-C（UV-C）辐射。它们在家庭、企业和医院的狭窄通道中的使用可以消除导致操作问题、感染甚至死亡的致病细菌和病毒。将紫外线辐射分布到紧密通道中的能力超过了目前使用化学管理或表面改性的生物膜预防方法，该方法在短时间内（数天）起作用，损坏表面并产生有害的副产品。这项技术有望扩展到生物医学设备、家用电器、空气净化和水系统等其他行业。该项目将推进GOF的可制造性，从不可扩展的浸涂工艺到拉制塔。GOF由两部分组成：a）容纳UV-C LED的光引擎和B）UV侧发射光纤。UV-C光（265 nm波长）从LED发送通过玻璃芯并被纳米颗粒涂层散射，导致UV-C光发射到周围环境（空气/水）中。目前，制造GOF所需的特定材料不适合在拉制塔中制造，并且该技术限于1米的刚性纤维。因此，该项目的具体目标是（i）创新能够分布用于拉制塔应用的UV-C辐射的外部纳米使能聚合物的化学，（ii）修改拉制塔中的制造步骤，以能够大规模制造300 µm直径的GOF，以提高灵活性和50 m长度的GOF，以及（iii）在大规模制造中控制纳米粒子的定位，以增强通过光纤长度的均匀光散射分布。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的评估被认为值得支持。影响审查标准。

The broader impact of this Small Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase 1 project is to advance the development of germicidal optical fibers (GOF). GOFs side emit ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation along their entire length like a glowstick. Their use in tight channels of homes, businesses, and hospitals can eliminate pathogenic bacteria and viruses that cause operational issues, infections and even deaths. The ability to distribute ultraviolet radiation into tight channels outranks the current biofilm prevention approach of using chemical management or surface modification that works for a short duration (days), damage surfaces and produces harmful by-products. This technology holds promise for extension to other industries in biomedical devices, home appliances, air purification and water systems. This project will advance the manufacturability of GOFs from a non-scalable dip coating process to a draw tower. GOFs consist of two parts: a) a light engine that houses a UV-C LED and b) a UV side emitting optical fiber. UV-C light (265 nm wavelength) is sent from the LED through the glass core and scattered by a nanoparticle coating, resulting in emission of UV-C light into the surrounding environment (air/water). Currently, the specific material needed for the manufacturing of GOFs are not suitable for manufacturing in a draw tower, and the technology is limited to 1 m rigid fibers. Therefore, the specific objectives in this project are to (i) innovate the chemistry of the external nano-enabled polymer able to distribute UV-C radiation for draw tower application, (ii) modify the manufacturing steps in a draw tower to enable large scale manufacturing of 300 µm diameter for increased flexibility and 50 m length GOFs and (iii) control nanoparticle positioning in large scale manufacturing to enhance uniform light scattering profile through the length of the fiber.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.