Proneem launches anti-COVID-19 textile treatment

The French Startup, Proneem, with support from France Chimie and Novachim, reports it has made a cloth treatment with high antibacterial activity which neutralizes the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 on textile surfaces. “A French breakthrough innovation,” the organization says.

Proneem, a company specialized in functional technologies applied to cloths in industrial environments, combines’sustainable virtues’ with cutting edge technologies to deliver high added value to the fabric industry in the method of antibacterial, anti-dust mite and anti-insect properties.

The organization, says it’s at the forefront of innovation, led by Nathalie Hagege, that holds a doctorate in molecular biology and immunology. “Proneem’s production procedures are based on microencapsulation and its own important R&D investment currently make it the only international organization to carry a Marketing Authorization (EC number: 283-644-7, FR-2018-0028) for a biocidal treatment to functionalize textile articles meant for domestic use that come into contact with skin,” Proneem adds.

“During this pandemic interval, Proneem’s specialists, supported by France Chimie and Novachim, have applied their expertise to combatting Covid-19 by creating the only French textile treatment with high antiviral activity, with proven efficacy on SARS-CoV-2. Tested by an independent French lab *, the technology creates a more lasting and permanent barrier that neutralizes the infectivity of both SARS-CoV-2 on fabric surfaces.”

“This innovative treatment, VIRALSTOP, unites the antiviral properties of zinc pyrithione and nitric oxide (ZnO) along with other active ingredients, by preventing many viruses like coronaviruses replicating and from damaging the viral envelope. According to samples of different forms of textiles, it’s now the only French remedy analyzed on the SARS-CoV-2 breed shown to be effective in neutralizing the virus. Its virucidal action lessens the viral population by over 99.99%**, increases the fabric’s protection level and limits the transmission of this virus. A significant innovation. It needs to be recalled that infected surfaces represent a significant vector for contamination and transmission, and that the new coronavirus appears to survive from a few hours to several times on fabric surfaces.”

Innovation to progress faster and puts French R&D in the forefront. Really, for the first time in France, it’s been possible to run tests on the SARS-CoV-2 breed, demonstrating the performance of a medicated textile. Having a highly effective active ingredient and recorded textile impregnation systems, we’ve proved it is likely to create fabrics able to destroy the virus” clarifies Nathalie Hagege, Founder and President of Proneem.

The researcher, who had been a member of the expert committee that drew the AFNOR document on sanitary masks, is currently working to optimize all of the textile and non-textile substances (such as nonwoven cloths ) to fight all coronaviruses, including COVID-19, knowingly. The idea: to enable the manufacture of French anti-COVID-19 textile and non-textile equipment that’s easy to use, reusable, competitively priced and available to all, which would provide maximum protection for the whole population while at the same time overcoming the risks from shortages of particular materials.

“Now, as we Start to exit lockdown, with action resuming in various business sectors, it’s vital to optimize the operation of sanitary and surgical masks with impregnation systems to provide maximum safety. I am thinking of all of the businesses, such as tourism or the events industry, that has to be organized differently and relaunch their actions with preventative measures and security. And I’m also thinking about all the mothers that aren’t sending their kids to school out of fear they’ll catch or pass on Covid-19. Together with this innovation, my overriding intention is to supply a remedy to an unprecedented problem that’s bringing the global economy to a standstill.

Functionalized fabrics with anti-COVID-19 properties will be used to Create gloves, masks and clothes able to neutralize the virus, which can therefore be used for extended periods without fear of the infectivity of several germs, such as SARS-CoV-2, Proneem explains.

“It will also be possible to use VIRALSTOP technology in several

“Wearing clothes with anti-COVID-19 properties would considerably improve social distancing measures and problems for tourism and also the events sector, currently canceled or postponed. Past the current health crisis, by way of this breakthrough innovation, PRONEEM wants to accelerate the development of functional cloths, reindustrialize the country and restore the opportunity for France to be a major player on the international scene,” the company finishes.

* VIBIOSPHEN, French medical biotechnology laboratory specialized in infectious diseases.

** Results of evaluations carried out on different synthetic and natural cloth samples.

– Anti-viral effect on the SARS-CoV-2 strain: after two hours’ contact on treated textiles, in accordance with the ISO 18184 anti-viral standard, VIRAL STOP™ neutralizes the SARS-CoV-2 strain responsible for COVID-19 with 99.99% efficiency.

– Antibacterial effect: after contact with treated textiles, in bacteria responsible for pathogenic developments linked to nosocomial effectiveness.