I-Corps: Translation Potential of Cellulose-Nanofiber-Based Surface Agents for Enhancing Bioactive Filtration Efficiency

这个I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响是开发一种生物可降解的抗菌喷雾，设计用于空气过滤系统。这一解决方案满足了改善空气质量和预防污染的需要，提供了诸如增强公共卫生和环境可持续性等好处。在许多应用中，包括建筑物和车辆的供暖和空调系统，商业潜力是巨大的。该产品满足了人们对更好的室内空气质量解决方案日益增长的需求。该喷雾将有利于空气过滤市场，提供一种经济高效的解决方案，将无缝集成到空气过滤器的生产过程中，减少过敏原，病毒和细菌，提高生活质量。这个I-Corps项目利用体验式学习和对行业生态系统的第一手调查来评估该技术的翻译潜力。该解决方案是基于水溶性纤维素纳米纤维（CNF）喷雾的开发，该喷雾在提高可生物降解和合成纺织品对微粒和病原体的效率和阻隔性能方面显示出了有希望的结果。经过行业标准验证，CNF喷雾将织物的细菌过滤效率（BFE）提高了87.3%。该技术还将某些细菌的生长速度降低了81%。将这种CNF喷雾集成到空气过滤系统中可以提高可持续性，并朝着全行业采用和改善空气质量管理迈出了一步。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this I-Corps project is the development of a biodegradable antibacterial spray designed for application in air filtration systems. This solution addresses the need for improved air quality and contamination prevention, providing benefits such as enhanced public health and environmental sustainability. The commercial potential is significant with many applications, including in heating and air conditioning systems of buildings and vehicles. This product meets the growing demand for better indoor air quality solutions. The spray will benefit the air filtration market, offering a cost-effective, high-performance solution that will be seamlessly integrated into the production process of air filters, reducing allergens, viruses, and bacteria to improve quality of life.This I-Corps project utilizes experiential learning coupled with a first-hand investigation of the industry ecosystem to assess the translation potential of the technology. The solution is based on the development of a water-soluble cellulose nanofiber (CNF) spray, which has demonstrated promising results in enhancing the efficiency and barrier properties of biodegradable and synthetic textiles against particulates and pathogens. Validated against industry standards, the CNF spray increased the Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) of fabrics up to 87.3%. The technology also reduces certain bacteria growth rates by 81%. Integrating this CNF spray into air filtration systems could lead to improved sustainability and a step towards industry-wide adoption and improved air quality management.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.