Method and apparatus for damaging viruses, fungi or bacteria

Abstract

A method may include providing a metal-coated leaf vein structure from at least one biological plant leaf skeleton; and introducing one or more bacteria and / or one or more viruses and / or one or more fungi into an area of ​​effect of the metal of the leaf vein structure, such that the one or more bacteria and / or one or more viruses and / or one or more fungi are damaged by the oligodynamic effect.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a device for damaging viruses, fungi or bacteria.

[0002] Water can contain a variety of different bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Water filters, often using hollow fiber membranes, are available for removing these bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Depending on the fineness of the hollow fiber membrane, many bacteria, viruses, and fungi can be filtered out of the water.

[0003] However, such a water filter is relatively complex and expensive. Furthermore, such a water filter is not sustainable because it is not biodegradable.

[0004] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures and are explained in more detail below.

[0005] They show Fig. 1 a water filter device according to various aspects of this revelation; Fig. 2 a water filter device according to various aspects of this revelation; Fig. Figures 3A to 3D illustrate the coating of a biological plant leaf framework according to various aspects of this revelation; Fig. 4A to 4D illustrate the coating of a biological plant leaf framework according to various aspects of this revelation; Fig. 5A a diagram showing the degree of bacterial suppression as a function of the number of coated plant leaf scaffolds over time; Fig. 5B a diagram showing the degree of bacterial suppression as a function of an electrical voltage applied to the coated plant leaf scaffolds over time; and Fig. 6 a flowchart illustrating a process for damaging bacteria, viruses and / or fungi.

[0006] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof and illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be implemented. In this context, directional terminology such as "top," "bottom," "front," "back," "anterior," "rear," etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the described figure(s). Since components of embodiments can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology serves only for illustration and is in no way limiting. It is understood that other embodiments may be used and structural or logical modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of protection of the present invention.It is understood that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein can be combined with one another, unless specifically stated otherwise. The following detailed description is therefore not to be interpreted in a limiting sense, and the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0007] Within the scope of this description, the terms "connected," "attached," and "coupled" are used to describe both direct and indirect connections, direct or indirect links, and direct or indirect couplings. In the figures, identical or similar elements are labeled with identical reference symbols where appropriate.

[0008] In this description, a leaf vein structure is understood to be a porous lignocellulose structure of a leaf.

[0009] Within the scope of this description, a treatment agent may contain chitosan, e.g., 50 mg chitosan in 10 ml acetic acid (200 mmol acid concentration), or up to 100 mg chitosan in 10 ml acetic acid. Furthermore, the treatment agent may alternatively or additionally contain tridodecylmethylammonium chloride in water, for example, 1 mol of tridodecylmethylammonium chloride, although the concentration is not of significant importance and can also be chosen differently.

[0010] A water filter for a water filtration device is illustrated, in which water purification takes place using a leaf vein structure made from at least one metal-coated biological plant leaf. The metal damages bacteria, viruses, and / or fungi due to the so-called oligodynamic effect when they are within the metal's range of influence (for example, through physical contact with the metal).

[0011] It should be noted that, more precisely, in the various aspects of this description, the water is not filtered, but purified by damaging or even killing viruses, fungi, and / or bacteria through the oligodynamic effect. The oligodynamic effect leads to the killing of proteins by a metal (for example, metal ions or metal cations) through denaturation / complexation.

[0012] Various aspects of this revelation utilize the oligodynamic effect without applying an electrical voltage to the leaf vein structure (for example, the leaf electrode(s)) or the galvanically assisted oligodynamic effect with the application of an electrical voltage to the leaf vein structure (for example, the leaf electrode(s)).

[0013] One aspect that can be clearly seen is water purification using leaf electrodes, as described herein.

[0014] Oligodynamics describes the damaging effect of metal ions (for example, metal cations – positively charged metal ions) on living cells. The ions of various metals exhibit a damaging effect on different pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Metals that exhibit the oligodynamic effect include mercury, silver, gold, osmium, copper, zinc, tin, iron, lead, bismuth, aluminum, and alloys of these metals, such as brass or bronze. The oligodynamic effect can disrupt bacterial metabolism, involve reactions with cytochromes, and lead to the formation of complexes with DNA and RNA.Furthermore, silver ions, for example, can influence the permeability of cell membranes; they can bind to sulfur bridges of proteins and cause a disruptive effect on enzymes (silver can form sulfides with thiol groups of enzymes and react with amino and carboxyl groups of enzymes, thereby inactivating them).

[0015] Fig. Figure 1 shows a water filter device 100 according to various aspects of this revelation.

[0016] The water filter device 100 comprises a container 102 which is at least partially filled with a liquid 104, for example, water 104. A leaf vein structure 106 is arranged in the liquid 104, for example, partially or completely immersed. The leaf vein structure 106 can have one or more biological plant leaf frameworks 108, for example, a stack of several biological plant leaf frameworks 108. Each of the biological plant leaf frameworks 108 (and thus the leaf vein structure 106) can be coated with metal 110. The metal layer 110 can be a continuous layer or have one or more interruptions.

[0017] A plant leaf skeleton (also called a plant leaf framework) is, in essence, the vascular tube of a biological plant leaf. A plant leaf skeleton represents a quasi-fractal network.

[0018] The metal layer 110 can consist of a single metal layer 110 or a stack of multiple metal layers. The single or multiple metal layers can contain or consist of one or more of the following metals: silver, copper, zinc, mercury, osmium, tin, iron, lead, bismuth, and / or gold. The metal layer 110, or the top layer of a stack of multiple metal layers, can be formed from a metal whose metal ions cause the oligodynamic effect. The metal layer 110 (or multiple metal layers) can be placed on one or more layers of another material, for example, on one or more layers of a polymer. The polymer layer can contain or consist of chitosan.

[0019] Liquid 104 may contain one or more bacteria, one or more viruses, and / or one or more fungi. Bacteria, viruses, and / or fungi (e.g., pathogens) that enter an (oligodynamic) effective area 112 of metal 110 are damaged due to the oligodynamic effect of metal ions (e.g., metal cations) of the metal in liquid 104.

[0020] The effective area 112 of the metal 110 of the leaf vein structure 108 can be an area surrounding the metal 110 of the leaf vein structure 108 up to a distance of a maximum of 100 µm from the metal 110 of the leaf vein structure 108, for example, up to a maximum distance of 30 µm (if no electrical voltage is applied to the leaf vein structure 108) and up to a maximum distance of 1 mm from the metal 110 of the leaf vein structure 108, for example, up to a distance of 200 µm (if an electrical voltage is applied to the leaf vein structure 108). The effective area 112 can also be the immediate vicinity of the metal, for example, bacteria, viruses, and / or fungi in physical contact with the metal 110.

[0021] Fig. Figure 2 shows a water filter device 200 according to various aspects of this revelation.

[0022] The water filter device 200 incorporates the elements of the water filter device 100. Fig. 1, as well as some additional elements. To avoid repetition, only the additional elements will be described below. For the other elements, please refer to the description of water filter device 100 from [reference missing]. Fig. 1 referred.

[0023] The water filter device 200 made of Fig. 2 further features a power supply interface 202 for connecting the water filter device 200, more precisely the leaf vein structure 106, to a power source 206 (for example, by means of a power connection 204, such as a cable 204). The power source 206 can, for example, be a battery or a mains voltage connection. By applying an electrical voltage to the leaf vein structure 106, the oligodynamic effect can be enhanced. In various aspects, the electrodes for electrically connecting the water filter device 200, more precisely the leaf vein structure 106, to the power source 206 can be attached to opposite ends of the water filter device 200, more precisely the leaf vein structure 106 (in Fig. 2 for example at a left end and at a right end of the leaf vein structure 106).

[0024] The following describes an example of coating a biological plant leaf framework with metal.

[0025] It is clearly explained that a metallization of a lignocellulose framework 310 (as an example of a biological plant leaf framework 310 - see Fig. 3B), which consists of a biological plant leaf 300 (see Fig. 3A), for example, obtained from a tree leaf 300 (e.g., from a magnolia tree, or alternatively from any other tree), leads to the formation of conductive meshes which, due to their germicidal properties, can function as water purification filters. The lignocellulose framework 310 is formed from the plant leaf 300 by, for example, removing the mesophyll of the plant leaf 300 to expose the quasi-fractal venation of the xylem and phloem tubules (in other words, the lignocellulose framework 310). This is based on the oligodynamic effect of metals such as silver, copper, aluminum, gold, zinc, and the like, in which charged ions (e.g., cations) released by such metals interfere with the metabolic processes of microorganisms and prevent their reproduction.

[0026] The process described below utilizes these lignocellulose scaffolds to produce flexible, biodegradable substrates. A method is also explained for coating these lignocellulose scaffolds with metal microparticles, such as silver microparticles, to produce highly conductive, freestanding, transparent electrodes. Fig. 3C shows an example of the lignocellulose framework 310 coated with metal microparticles 320 dispersed in a binder, for example silver microparticles 320. Silver microparticles 320, as the metal, or in other words as a metallizing agent, provide high electrical conductivity, which is retained even after oxidation in air, and are widely available as a component of inks for functional printing.

[0027] Fig. 3D shows an illustration of the silver microparticles 320 binding to lignocellulose fibers 330 (which occur in nature bundled as macrofibrils).

[0028] The plant leaf scaffold 310 coated with metal 320 (for example, with metal microparticles 320) vividly represents an electrode. In various examples, to achieve the lowest possible electrical film resistance, the plant leaf scaffold 310, for example the lignocellulosic fibers 330, can first be subjected to a corona discharge treatment (CDT) (e.g., with a 10 kV handheld device) for surface treatment, thereby generating partial anionic charges on the lignocellulosic fibers 330.

[0029] Fig. Figure 4A shows the plant leaf framework 310, which vividly illustrates a quasi-fractal microstructure, for example, a quasi-fractal lignocellulose microstructure. The plant leaf framework 310 can have several secondary veins 402 and tertiary veins 404, with the tertiary veins 404 branching off from the secondary veins 402. The plant leaf framework 310 is subjected to corona discharge treatment (CDT), which introduces partial negative charges 406 onto the plant leaf framework 310, for example, onto the lignocellulose fibers 310 (see Figure 4A). Fig. 4B). Corona discharge treatment thus creates activated sites on the lignocellulose surface by deprotonating the functional hydroxyl (-OH) and carboxyl (-COOH) groups, resulting in the effective negative charge 406 of the structure. The use of CDT offers the advantage of a solvent-free and environmentally friendly approach.

[0030] The plant leaf framework 310 with the partial negative charges 406 can be immersed in a silver microparticle ink 408, for example with protonated polyethyleneimine (PEI) as an adhesion promoter 410 (see Fig. 4C). The silver microparticles 320 bind strongly to the lignocellulose microstructures, for example the lignocellulose fibers 310, as in Fig. 4D representation, so that a plant leaf scaffold electrode 412 is clearly formed. In other words, when the lignocellulose fibers 310 are dipped into the silver microparticle ink 408, which contains, for example, protonated amine groups, the silver microparticles 410 bind to the lignocellulose fibers 310, resulting in a highly stable and electrically conductive quasifractal silver electrode, as shown in Fig. Shown in 4D.

[0031] The process can be carried out in air without requiring special atmospheric conditions and allows for the explicit activation of the polymer surface without altering the bulk properties.

[0032] In summary, the manufacturing process is simple (requiring only basic chemical treatments without the use of machinery). Furthermore, because it is based on organic plant leaves, the process can be easily mass-produced without leaving a large carbon footprint.

[0033] Metals that generate an oligodynamic effect, such as Ag, Cu, or Zn, can be readily employed in this manufacturing process, and the process can be transferred to other materials like carbon or semiconductors. The use of semiconductors also allows us to fabricate pn-junction-like coatings using multiple functional materials or to incorporate donor-acceptor-based polymers or zwitterion sources, enabling the control of ion release based on external factors such as heat, light, concentration of biological compounds, etc., which would in turn lead to an oligodynamic biocidal effect.

[0034] Furthermore, the plant leaf scaffolds can also be used as a mechanical filter, as they have an average pore size of approximately 250 µm to 350 µm. The size of the deposits that can clog the filter can be controlled by increasing the pore size mechanically, either through laser cutting or sandblasting. The same pore size can be reduced by stacking several such electrically conductive plant leaf scaffolds. Due to their electrical conductivity, it is also possible to periodically burn away the accumulated deposits to restore the filter to its original condition.

[0035] Tests have shown that the leaf electrodes achieve excellent results in purifying water of disease-causing microorganisms such as E. coli (Escherichia coli), as demonstrated in Fig. 5A in a first diagram 500 and in Fig. 5B is shown in a second diagram 510. The effect is reproducible either with passive electrodes or with a smaller number of electrified (i.e., active) electrodes.

[0036] Fig. 5A shows in the first diagram 500 an antibacterial effect of leaf electrode stacks when placed in stationary contaminated water: - A first characteristic curve 502 describes the antibacterial effect when using a single stack of 10 substrates (i.e., exactly one stack of 10 coated plant leaf scaffolds), and - A second characteristic curve 504 describes the antibacterial effect when using two stacks of 10 substrates each (i.e., two stacks of 10 coated plant leaf scaffolds).

[0037] Fig. 5B shows in the second diagram 510 an antibacterial effect when a voltage of 1 V (third characteristic curve 512) and 2 V (fourth characteristic curve 514) current was passed through the leaf electrodes placed in contaminated water.

[0038] In various aspects of this revelation, copper may be provided as an alternative or additional metal.

[0039] The amount of silver used can be reduced without compromising the high conductivity and quasi-transparency of the resulting copper-coated plant leaf electrodes. This is achieved by first diluting the silver microparticle ink 408 with an organic solvent to reduce its viscosity by an order of magnitude without altering the original silver microparticle content. This results in a relatively low coating conductivity when the CDT-treated frameworks are metallized. The layer resistance increases by approximately two orders of magnitude (~70 Ω) compared to that achieved with the undiluted silver microparticle ink 408 (0.5 Ω). This reduced amount of silver serves as a nucleation layer for copper deposition during electroplating, for example, in a CuSO₄ solution. 4. 5H2O bath.

[0040] This process leads to a copper-based metallization of plant leaf scaffolds, e.g. lignocellulose scaffolds.

[0041] Fig. Figure 6 shows a flowchart illustrating a procedure 600 for damaging bacteria, viruses and / or fungi.

[0042] The method may comprise, in 602, providing a metal-coated leaf vein structure from at least one biological plant leaf, and, in 604, introducing one or more bacteria and / or one or more viruses and / or one or more fungi into an area of ​​effect of the metal of the leaf vein structure, such that the one or more bacteria and / or the one or more viruses and / or the one or more fungi is or are damaged by the oligodynamic effect.

[0043] The bacteria and / or the viruses and / or the fungi can be provided in a liquid in which the metal of the leaf vein structure is at least partially immersed.

[0044] The metal-coated leaf vein structure can be produced, wherein the leaf vein structure has several leaf veins, by treating the leaf vein structure with a composition of chelated metal microparticles of at least one metal such that each leaf vein of the several leaf veins is coated with the metal.

[0045] The process may further include pretreating the leaf vein structure by means of a treatment agent containing tridodecylmethylammonium chloride or chitosan, and / or by means of a corona treatment to modify the electrical properties of the leaf vein structure so that a pretreated leaf vein structure is formed, and treating the pretreated leaf structure by means of a metal ion solution such that each leaf vein of the multiple leaf veins is coated with the metal.

[0046] The treatment of the pre-treated leaf structure can be carried out such that the leaf veins are substantially coated with the metal. This treatment can involve immersing the pre-treated leaf structure in the metal ion solution to form the coated leaf vein structure. The metal ion solution can contain metal ions selected from a group consisting of at least one of the following: silver ions, copper ions, zinc ions, mercury ions, osmium ions, tin ions, iron ions, lead ions, bismuth ions, aluminum ions, and / or gold ions. The metal ion solution can have a viscosity ranging from 5 Pa·s to 50 Pa·s.

[0047] The method may further include adjusting a predefined electrical conductivity of the applied metal by adjusting a chemical concentration of the treatment agent during pretreatment of the leaf vein structure.

[0048] The method may further include the application of an electrical voltage to the leaf vein structure during damage to the bacteria and / or virus and / or fungi by means of the oligodynamic effect.

[0049] The following section will explain various aspects of this description in more detail.

[0050] Example 1 is a method. The method may comprise: providing a metal-coated leaf vein structure made from at least one biological plant leaf skeleton; and introducing one or more bacteria and / or one or more viruses and / or one or more fungi into an area of ​​effect of the metal of the leaf vein structure, such that the one or more bacteria and / or the one or more viruses and / or the one or more fungi are damaged by the oligodynamic effect.

[0051] In Example 2, the subject of Example 1 may optionally include the provision of one or more bacteria and / or one or more viruses and / or one or more fungi in a liquid in which the metal of the leaf vein structure is also at least partially immersed.

[0052] In Example 3, the object of Example 2 can optionally have the effect area of ​​the metal of the leaf vein structure being an area surrounding the metal of the leaf vein structure up to a distance from the metal of the leaf vein structure of a maximum of 100 µm (for example, without applying an electrical voltage to the leaf vein structure).

[0053] In Example 4, the object of Example 2 may optionally have that the effective area of ​​the metal of the leaf vein structure is an area surrounding the metal of the leaf vein structure up to a distance from the metal of the leaf vein structure of a maximum of 1 mm (for example, when an electrical voltage of, for example, an electrical voltage in a range of approximately 1 V is applied to the leaf vein structure), or that the effective area of ​​the metal of the leaf vein structure is an area surrounding the metal of the leaf vein structure up to a distance from the metal of the leaf vein structure of a maximum of 2 mm (for example, when an electrical voltage of, for example, an electrical voltage in a range of approximately 2 V is applied to the leaf vein structure).

[0054] In Example 5, the object may optionally include any of Examples 1 to 4, such that the metal of the leaf vein structure is brought into physical contact with the bacteria and / or the viruses and / or the fungi.

[0055] In Example 6, the subject matter can optionally include any of Examples 1 to 5, wherein the process further comprises producing the metal-coated leaf vein structure, wherein the leaf vein structure comprises multiple leaf veins, and wherein the production comprises treating the leaf vein structure by means of a composition of chelated metal microparticles of at least one metal such that each leaf vein of the multiple leaf veins is coated with the metal.

[0056] In Example 7, the subject matter of Example 6 may optionally include that the process further comprises pretreating the leaf vein structure by means of a treatment agent containing tridodecylmethylammonium chloride or chitosan, and / or by means of corona treatment to modify the electrical properties of the leaf vein structure, so that a pretreated leaf vein structure is formed; and treating the pretreated leaf structure by means of a metal ion solution such that each leaf vein of the multiple leaf veins is coated with the metal.

[0057] In Example 8, the subject of Example 7 may optionally include the treatment of the pre-treated leaf structure in such a way that the leaf veins are coated substantially conformal to the metal.

[0058] In Example 9, the subject of Example 7 or 8 may optionally include the treatment of the pretreated leaf structure comprising immersion of the pretreated leaf structure in the metal ion solution for metal coating of the pretreated leaf structure, so that the coated leaf vein structure is formed.

[0059] In Example 10, the item may optionally have any of Examples 7 to 9, wherein the metal ion solution has metal ions, the metal ions being selected from a group of metal ions consisting of at least one of the following metal ions: silver ions; copper ions; zinc ions; mercury ions; osmium ions; tin ions; iron ions; lead ions; bismuth ions; aluminum ions; and / or gold ions.

[0060] In Example 11, the item may optionally exhibit any of Examples 7 to 10 such that the metal ion solution has a viscosity in the range of 5 Pa·s to 50 Pa·s.

[0061] In Example 12, the subject matter may optionally include any of Examples 1 to 11, the method further comprising adjusting a predefined electrical conductivity of the applied metal by adjusting a chemical concentration of the treatment agent during pretreatment of the leaf vein structure.

[0062] In Example 13, the subject matter may optionally include any of Examples 1 to 12, further comprising the application of an electrical voltage to the leaf vein structure during the damage of the bacteria and / or virus and / or fungi by means of the oligodynamic effect.

[0063] Example 14 is a device. The device may comprise: a metal-coated leaf vein structure made from at least one biological plant leaf, wherein the metal-coated leaf vein structure is configured to damage one or more bacteria, one or more viruses, or one or more fungi by means of the oligodynamic effect.

[0064] In Example 15, the object of Example 14 may optionally have the metal forming a metal layer on the leaf vein structure.

[0065] In Example 16, the object of Example 15 may optionally have a metal layer that has or is a silver layer.

[0066] In Example 17, the object may optionally include any of Examples 14 to 16, further comprising a polymer layer between the leaf vein structure and the metal.

[0067] In Example 18, the subject of Example 17 may optionally have a polymer layer that contains or consists of chitosan.

[0068] In Example 19, the article may optionally include any of Examples 14 to 18, wherein the device further comprises a container at least partially filled with liquid, wherein the liquid contains the bacteria, virus or fungi, and wherein the metal of the metal-coated leaf vein structure is at least partially immersed in the liquid.

[0069] In Example 20, the item may optionally include any of Examples 14 to 19, further comprising a power supply interface for connecting the device to a power source.

[0070] In Example 19, the subject matter may optionally include any of Examples 14 to 20, further comprising a power source configured to apply an electrical voltage to the leaf vein structure.

[0071] Example 22 is a use of a metal-coated leaf vein structure from at least one biological plant leaf skeleton to damage one or more bacteria, one or more viruses or one or more fungi by means of the oligodynamic effect.

[0072] Example 23 is the use of a metal-coated leaf vein structure from a biological plant leaf skeleton as a water filter.

Claims

[1] Method, comprising: • Providing a metal-coated leaf vein structure from at least one biological plant leaf skeleton; and • Bringing one or more bacteria and / or one or more viruses and / or one or more fungi into an area of ​​influence of the metal of the leaf vein structure, so that the one or more bacteria and / or the one or more viruses and / or the one or more fungi are damaged by means of the oligodynamic effect. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more bacteria and / or the one or more viruses and / or the one or more fungi is or are provided in a liquid in which the metal of the leaf vein structure is also at least partially immersed. [3] Method according to claim 2, wherein the effective area of ​​the metal of the leaf vein structure is an area surrounding the metal of the leaf vein structure up to a distance from the metal of the leaf vein structure of a maximum of 100 µm. [4] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the metal of the leaf vein structure is brought into physical contact with the bacteria and / or the viruses and / or the fungi. [5] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: Manufacturing the metal-coated leaf vein structure, wherein the leaf vein structure has multiple leaf veins, wherein the manufacturing process comprises treating the leaf vein structure by means of a composition of chelated metal microparticles of at least one metal such that each leaf vein of the multiple leaf veins is coated with the metal. [6] Method according to claim 5, further comprising: • Pretreating the leaf vein structure with a treatment agent containing tridodecylmethylammonium chloride or chitosan, and / or by means of corona treatment to modify the electrical properties of the leaf vein structure, so that a pretreated leaf vein structure is formed; and • Treating the pre-treated leaf structure with a metal ion solution in such a way that each leaf vein of the multiple leaf veins is coated with the metal. [7] Method according to claim 6, wherein the treatment of the pretreated leaf structure is carried out such that the leaf veins are coated substantially conformally to the metal. [8] Method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the treatment of the pretreated leaf structure comprises immersion of the pretreated leaf structure in the metal ion solution for metal coating of the pretreated leaf structure, so that the coated leaf vein structure is formed. [9] Method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the metal ion solution comprises metal ions, wherein the metal ions are selected from a group of metal ions consisting of at least one of the following metal ions: • Silver ions; • Copper ions; • Zinc ions; • Mercury ions; • Osmium ions; • Tin ions; • Iron ions; • Lead ions; • Bismutants; • Aluminum ions; and / or • Gold ions. [10] Method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the metal ion solution has a viscosity in the range of 5 Pa·s to 50 Pa·s. [11] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising: Setting a predefined electrical conductivity of the applied metal by adjusting the chemical concentration of the treatment agent during pretreatment of the leaf vein structure. [12] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising: Applying an electrical voltage to the leaf vein structure while damaging the bacteria and / or virus and / or fungi by means of the oligodynamic effect. [13] Method according to claim 12, wherein the effective area of ​​the metal of the leaf vein structure is an area surrounding the metal of the leaf vein structure up to a distance from the metal of the leaf vein structure of a maximum of 2 mm. [14] Device comprising: • a metal-coated leaf vein structure from at least one biological plant leaf, • wherein the metal-coated leaf vein structure is designed to damage one or more bacteria, one or more viruses, or one or more fungi by means of the oligodynamic effect. [15] Device according to claim 14, wherein the metal forms a metal layer on the leaf vein structure. [16] Device according to claim 15, wherein the metal layer has or is a silver layer. [17] Device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, further comprising: a polymer layer between the leaf vein structure and the metal. [18] Device according to claim 17, wherein the polymer layer comprises or consists of chitosan. [19] Device according to any one of claims 14 to 18, further comprising: • a container at least partially filled with liquid; • wherein the liquid contains the bacteria, virus or fungi; and • wherein the metal of the metal-coated leaf vein structure is at least partially immersed in the liquid. [20] Device according to any one of claims 14 to 19, further comprising: a power supply interface for connecting the device to a power source. [21] Device according to any one of claims 14 to 20, further comprising: an energy source designed to apply an electrical voltage to the leaf vein structure. [22] Use of a metal-coated leaf vein structure made from at least one biological plant leaf skeleton to damage one or more bacteria, one or more viruses or one or more fungi by means of the oligodynamic effect or the galvanically assisted oligodynamic effect. [23] Use of a metal-coated leaf vein structure from a biological plant leaf skeleton as a water filter.

Images