Development of A Biodegradable Antimicrobial Invisible-Glove (Protective Skin Guard) that Reduces the Use of Disposable PPE

鉴于2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）爆发后个人防护装备（PPE）的严重短缺及其需求的飙升，NAVCO制药有限公司开发了BioActiveTM，这是一种革命性的无毒、不易燃、不含酒精的洗手霜，可防止病原体感染。这种面霜起到屏障的作用，提供PPE等保护，并对手和表面进行消毒。然而，这种乳霜的效果只持续较短的时间。考虑到这种面霜的好处，以及对医疗保健和基本服务工作者更安全、更创新产品的需求，NAVCO正计划通过提高其长期有效性，将其面霜提升到一个新的水平，这样面霜就可以起到隐形手套的作用。这种面霜就像一种具有抗菌作用的屏障面霜/皮肤防护霜。这种皮肤防护装置将与传统手套和其他个人防护装备一道增加额外的安全级别，为有害物质增加物理屏障，为病原体增加化学屏障。NAVCO将与可穿戴、互动和移动卫生技术访问中心（WIMTACH）合作，开发一种抗菌、安全、经济、持久、可生物降解的“隐形手套”，如果发现有效，甚至可以在一定程度上取代手套，减少垃圾填埋。此次合作将为公司提供竞争优势，扩大该产品面向卫生保健工作者（HCW）、诊断和BSL 1-2实验室的研究人员和学生、餐馆的食品处理人员以及公众的市场销路。

Seeing the critical shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with the onset of COVID-19 and its skyrocketing demand, the NAVCO Pharmaceuticals Limited developed BioActiveTM, a revolutionary non-toxic, non-flammable, alcohol-free hand sanitizing cream that protects from pathogens. This cream acts as a barrier and provide PPE like protection along with sanitizing hands and disinfecting surfaces. However, effects of this cream last only for a shorter duration. Looking at the benefit of this cream and need of a safer and innovative product for healthcare and essential services workers, NAVCO is planning to advance their cream to the next level by increasing its effectivity for long term so that the cream can act as an invisible glove. This cream will act like a barrier cream/ skin guard with antimicrobial effects. This protective skin guard will add an additional security level along with the traditional gloves and other PPE by adding a physical barrier to the hazardous materials and chemical barrier to pathogens. NAVCO will collaborate with Wearable, Interactive and Mobile Technology Access Centre in Health (WIMTACH) to develop an antimicrobial, safe, cost-effective, long-lasting, and biodegradable "invisible-glove", which if found effective can even replace gloves to some extent and reduce the landfill waste. The collaboration will provide competitive advantage to the company by expanding the marketability of the product for Health Care Workers (HCW), researchers and students in diagnostic and BSL 1-2 labs, food handlers in restaurants, as well as for the public.