Panasonic and Nanoe Demonstrate Suppression Effect on New Corona Mutant Strains

Panasonic announced that its unique nanoe technology, which is a charged microparticle water technology, is effective against alpha, beta, gamma, and delta strains, which are considered "concerned mutations" in the new coronavirus. They announced that they demonstrated inhibitory effects on four mutant strains.

Classification of novel coronavirus mutant strains

By exposing charged microparticle water for 2 hours, all mutant strains were confirmed to have an inhibitory effect of 99% or more. Hiroshi Suda, General Manager of Functional Device Development Department, Core Technology Development Center, Living Product Innovation Division, Living Appliances Company, Living Business Headquarters, Panasonic, said, "For all mutant strains, including the delta strain, which is said to be the most infectious, it suppresses more than 99%. We were able to confirm the effect.There is a possibility that various air risks, including new pathogenic microorganisms, will continue to occur.Panasonic will continue to pursue the possibilities of charged fine particle water technology and verify various effects. We will continue to contribute to society,” he said.

In July 2020, Panasonic demonstrated the effect of suppressing the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) with regard to charged fine particle water technology, but this time, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated Four types of "mutant strains of concern" were tested: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta strains.

The demonstration test was conducted jointly with the Japan Textile Product Quality Technology Center, and a comparison experiment of virus infectivity was conducted in a 45L test space with or without exposure to charged particulate water.

In the test space, a charged fine particle water generator was installed at a position 10 cm from the bottom. A gauze with a drop of the virus liquid was placed in a petri dish and exposed to charged fine particle water for 2 hours. The virus infectivity titer was measured and the inhibition rate was calculated.

Suppression test method for new coronavirus mutants

The suppression rate was 99.7% for the conventional strain, but 99.7% for the alpha strain, 99.8% for the beta strain, 99.8% for the gamma strain, and 99.8% for the delta strain. rate has been achieved.

Suppression test results for new coronavirus mutant strains

In Panasonic, ``This verification is the result of a closed test space, and it does not verify the effect in the actual use space.In addition, since Panasonic is not a company that sells medical equipment, We do not claim that the product is effective against a specific virus." However, he added, "Although it is difficult to verify, we would like to work on verifying the effect in real space in the future."

Electrified water particles (nanoe) are nano-sized (approximately 5 to 20 nm) fine particle ions that are generated by condensing water in the air and applying high voltage. , In addition to deodorizing, it is effective in suppressing bacteria and allergens.

Nanoe is smaller than tobacco smoke, viruses, and steam, so it can penetrate deep into the fibers to capture allergens and suppress their activity. In addition to deodorizing the 5 main odors of life and aging odors, it is also gentle on the skin and hair because it is weakly acidic.

In addition, when the charged water particles reach the virus and adhere to the surface of the virus, the highly oxidative and highly reactive OH radical denatures the proteins on the virus surface, suppressing the virus. The OH radical has a mechanism that reacts with hydrogen to form water.

In addition to being used in Panasonic's air purifiers, air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, hair dryers, etc., nanoe is also provided to automobile manufacturers, elevator manufacturers, and railway companies.

Since May 2009, when it demonstrated the effect of suppressing avian influenza, it has demonstrated the effect of suppressing new strains of influenza, suppressing mold, and decomposing components containing PM2.5.

Demonstration of effects in response to social unrest

As a result of conducting virus clearance tests while proceeding with these verifications, each item classified into four categories according to biological characteristics (genes are DNA or RNA, with or without envelope) ), the inhibitory effect was confirmed for each. Based on this, in January 2012, it was concluded that "charged microparticle water technology can be expected to have an inhibitory effect against both known and unknown viruses from the viewpoint of biological mechanisms of action." had announced.

Since the new coronavirus is classified as having RNA / envelope, the company predicted that it would also have a suppressive effect on the new coronavirus, but in July 2020, in collaboration with Osaka Prefecture University, , demonstrating the suppression effect of charged fine particle water against the new coronavirus. Regarding the mutant strain this time, "We can expect the effect of the charged microparticle water technology, but in view of the spread of infection, we verified it again" (Mr. Suda), and as a result, the suppression effect was demonstrated. .

Mechanism of Virus Suppression of ``Charged Water Microparticles'' Effect of ``Charged Water Microparticles'' on Viruses

Prof. The virus action is not completely elucidated.However, it is not a specific reaction like an antibody.From the experimental results using influenza virus and calicivirus, the virus suppression effect of charged water particles is It is thought that the effect depends on the components such as protein, sugar, lipid, etc. From the results of this verification, there was no difference in the inhibition rate of the charged water microparticles between the new coronavirus strains. It is thought that viral mutations due to some amino acid substitutions do not affect the inactivation effect." “For this reason, we can expect that the same experimental results will be obtained with the charged microparticle water technology if we conduct tests under the same experimental conditions as this time, even for mutant strains that are expected to appear in the future.”