PolyVentures story | Immune Materials Developing 3D-printed antiviral materials to protect the public during the pandemic.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have become used to avoiding contact with surfaces such as lift buttons and door handles. We have even “invented” a tool for pressing lift buttons. But wouldn’t it be far easier if the surface itself was antimicrobial?

That’s why Prof. Kan Chi-wai and Dr Chris Lo Kwan-yu of the School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT) at PolyU co-founded Immune Materials Ltd (IML), a pioneer in the field of antiviral and antibacterial plastic products made using 3D-printing and other traditional production methods. Their 3D-printed products and materials have been proven to destroy up to 99.9% of common bacteria and 99.2% of COVID-19 variants within 20 minutes. They are guaranteed to remain effective for up to three years, even if their surfaces are damaged.

Their technology can be applied to public fixtures such as handles, doorknob covers and lift buttons. It has played a vital role during the pandemic, especially in high-risk environments such as quarantine centres, hospitals, schools, and hotels.