Antimicrobial Technology

Why Zoono?

Zoono is an antimicrobial technology that works differently from the common liquid traditional disinfectants, that have been used for many years. Antibiotics are now struggling for the treatment of infection due to resistance developed by potentially harmful microorganisms by selection as a result of the wide spread global misuse of antibiotics through poor prescribing, agriculture and availability without prescription. Some bacteria are now totally resistant to the previously considered most effective antibiotics such as carbapenems. These are destroyed by the bacteria producing enzymes capable of inactivating the antibiotic such as carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE).

What is Zoono?

Zoono technology is not an antibiotic but it is a game changing solution to reducing the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms from the environment, as the next generation of antimicrobial surface protection it continues to kill microorganisms for up to 30 days depending upon the application. Zoono becomes active when it is dry and can be applied to any surface with the simplest application, such as by spray/wipe or more sophisticated fogging techniques, and once dry aesthetic cleaning can continue to take place as it binds to the surface producing a protective antimicrobial barrier. The technology is also available as a hand sanitizer to provide residual protection.

Why is protecting surfaces important?

It is now widely acknowledged that the environment and surfaces are a significant source of microbiological contamination and is considered as a major vector for harmful microorganisms to cause infection (cross-infection). Bacteria, virus’s fungi and yeasts contaminate surfaces and in fact can form bio-films that are extremely resilient to hygiene processes i.e. cleaning and disinfection. Harmful microorganisms can be transferred by cross contamination via touch or the air in the form of aerosols (in water droplets) or generally as single cells or “clumps”. Aerial contamination is especially significant for viral infection but also for other infections such as those caused by spores such as Clostridium difficile. Bacteria can also be found in water systems such as Pseudomonas spp. Each species, family of microorganisms can have its own unique mode of transmission and portal of entry, people that are more vulnerable with low immunity, the very young and very old can be especially vulnerable but there are a plethora microorganisms “pathogens” that are capable of infecting any person for example Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), norovirus, Aspergillus niger and extremely pathogenic viruses such as Ebola. However, patients that are immune-suppressed, have open wounds or who are generally ill at any age are more susceptible.

The Benefits of Zoono

The environment in any building, vehicle, ship or even home that has surfaces and is not protected, especially the hospital environment, can therefore be a source of infection. Routine liquid disinfectants only work while the surfaces are wet, once the disinfectant is wiped off or dried it is no longer capable of killing any further potentially harmful microorganisms that recontaminate that surface. In fact, the surface becomes contaminated to the same levels as before disinfection within 1 – 2 hours. This is the reason why Zoono technology is a next generation biocide, it is also water-based and has low toxicity levels therefore does not require any special precautionary considerations unlike the more toxic and corrosive biocides, which is why it can also be used in the home. The product designed for surface application is Zoono Microbe Shield (Z71).

How does Zoono work?

Zoono works by the formation of a mono-molecular layer of covalently bound biocidal molecules based around silicone polymer chemistry. The simplest analogy is that antimicrobial “spikes” are formed on the surface that are highly positively charged and as a result of this charge, the negatively charged molecular structure of microorganisms are attracted to the “spikes” and the cell wall and membrane is lysed by a process of “fluidisation”, the organism is then killed and the process continues. Zoono however has no long-term sporicidal properties but there is a sporicidal version available if required for a one-off kill of spores such as those produced by the pathogen Clostridium difficile.

Zoono history past and present

Zoono technology was originally developed to help prevent the build-up of bio-matter on submarines reducing friction and for the antimicrobial protection of textiles. However, at the time the formulations were highly volatile and toxic and had existed since the 1930’s and the technology was re-engineered to water based in the 80’s. Zoono was established in 2008 by the founder Paul Hyslop based in New Zealand and has since become a global organisation bringing on Zoono India, Zoono USA with FDA and EPA approval and a number of other countries globally such as China and the UAE. As a result of this Zoono is used in many application areas and has a wealth of global microbiological test data. In 2018 offices and ware housing in the UK was set up to serve the European market and currently extensive R&D is underway.

Recent new product developments

Zoono technology was originally developed to help prevent the build-up of bio-matter on submarines reducing friction and for the antimicrobial protection of textiles. However, at the time the formulations were highly volatile and toxic and had existed since the 1930’s and the technology was re-engineered to water based in the 80’s. Zoono was established in 2008 by the founder Paul Hyslop based in New Zealand and since then has become a global organisation bringing on Zoono India, Zoono USA with FDA and EPA approval and a number of other countries globally such as China and the UEA. As a result of this Zoono is used in many application areas and has a wealth of global microbiological test data. In 2018 offices and ware housing in the UK was set up to serve the European market and currently extensive R&D is underway.

Summary

The important benefit of Zoono antimicrobial technology is that it is not a traditional biocide (disinfectant) as it modifies any surface to become antimicrobial for an extended period of time. It is classified as nano-technology because it is completely invisible to the naked eye, meaning that no residue can be seen even on shiny surfaces such as glass. It has low extremely low levels of toxicity, is simple to apply and has many areas of application. It is also highly cost effective as only a low volume application is required and it lasts for an extended period of time after application once it has dried.

Zoono reduces the risk of environmentally mediated infection by overcoming the age-old dilemma of rapid surface recontamination after traditional “wet” disinfection, active once dry – a game changing technology adapted for modern global infection control issues. Zoono works differently, it works best when dry!

Zoono Products Are:

Very low Toxicity (similar toxicity to a glass of orange juice).
Environmentally friendly – Break down in the environment.
Only becomes active in its dry state, totally different to other disinfectant/sanitisers that only work when they “wet” the surface.
Kills microorganisms through a mechanical process, is non-poisonous and alcohol free
Remains active and bonded to surfaces for up to 30 days, doesn’t wash off with normal cleaning.
Remains active for up to 30 washes in textiles.
On Skin stays active for up to 24 hours.
Zoono has over 100 independent 3^rd party test results globally and has been shown to inactivate all viruses tested against, including MERS, H1N1 (Swine flu)

Norovirus, Influenza A, and against bacterial pathogens including C. diff, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Zoono enjoys global approvals, including FDA/EPA (US), UK and European Union, New Zealand and Australia.
Zoono is approved for food contact and enjoys many food safety approvals.
Zoono is suitable for use in healthcare, childcare, aged Care, veterinary, dental, food manufacturing and processing, poultry, dairy, bottling, corporate markets, military, agriculture, horticulture and many more industries.