Method and device for damaging viruses, fungi or bacteria

Abstract

A method for damaging viruses, fungi or bacteria can comprise: providing a metal-coated leaf vein structure made of 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 active region 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 means of the oligodynamic effect.

Description

[0001] Be s ehre ibung

[0002] Method and device for damaging viruses, fungi or bacteria

[0003] The invention relates to a method and a device for damaging viruses, fungi or bacteria.

[0004] Water can contain a variety of different bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Water filters are used to remove these bacteria, viruses, and fungi; these filters often incorporate a hollow fiber membrane. Depending on the fineness of the hollow fiber membrane, many bacteria, viruses, and fungi can be filtered out of the water.

[0005] However, such a water filter is relatively complex and expensive. Furthermore, such a water filter is not sustainable because it is not biodegradable.

[0006] DE 10 2004 050 462 A1 describes a substrate material with antimicrobial and fungicidal properties and a method for surface modification of the substrate material. The substrate material is modified near the surface using FCVA (Filtered Cathodic Vacuum Arc). The substrate material is a textile fabric or a polymer fabric.

[0007] According to the independent patent claims, methods and a device for damaging viruses, fungi or bacteria are provided, which are very simple and inexpensive to manufacture and yet exhibit high efficiency.

[0008] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures and are explained in more detail below.

[0009] Figure 1 shows a water filter device according to various aspects of this revelation;

[0010] Figure 2 shows a water filter device according to various aspects of this revelation;

[0011] Figures 3A to 3D illustrate the coating of a biological plant leaf skeleton according to various aspects of this revelation;

[0012] Figures 4A to 4D illustrate the coating of a biological plant leaf framework according to various aspects of this revelation;

[0013] Figure 5A is a diagram showing the degree of bacterial suppression as a function of the number of coated plant leaf scaffolds over time;

[0014] Figure 5B is 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

[0015] Figure 6 shows a flowchart illustrating a process for damaging bacteria, viruses and / or fungi.

[0016] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof and in which specific embodiments of the invention are shown for illustrative purposes. In this respect, 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 for illustrative purposes 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 restrictive sense, and the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the attached claims.

[0017] 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.

[0018] In this description, a leaf vein structure is understood to be a porous lignocellulose structure of a leaf.

[0019] 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. An illustration of a water filter for a water filtration device is provided, in which water purification is achieved by means of 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 (e.g., in physical contact with the metal).

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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)).

[0022] One aspect can be clearly seen in water purification using leaf electrodes, as described herein.

[0023] 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).

[0024] Fig. 1 shows a water filter device 100 according to various aspects of this disclosure.

[0025] 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 may 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) may be coated with metal 110. The metal layer 110 may be a continuous layer or have one or more interruptions.

[0026] 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.

[0027] The metal layer 110 can consist of a single metal layer 110 or a stack of several 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 provided 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.

[0028] 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) area of ​​effect 112 of the metal 110 are damaged due to the oligodynamic effect of metal ions (e.g., metal cations) of the metal in liquid 104.

[0029] 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 distance of a maximum of 30 µm (when no electrical voltage is applied to the leaf vein structure 108) and up to a distance of a maximum of 1 mm from the metal 110 of the leaf vein structure 108, for example, up to a distance of 200 µm (when 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 can be in physical contact with the metal 110. Fig. 2 shows a water filter device 200 according to various aspects of this disclosure.

[0030] The water filter device 200 comprises the elements of the water filter device 100 shown in 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 the water filter device 100 in Fig. 1.

[0031] The water filter device 200 from Fig. 2 further comprises 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).

[0032] The following describes an example of coating a biological plant leaf framework with metal.

[0033] It is clearly explained that the metallization of a lignocellulose framework 310 (as an example of a biological plant leaf framework 310 – see Fig. 3B), obtained from a biological plant leaf 300 (see Fig. 3A), for example 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.

[0034] The process described below utilizes these lignocellulose scaffolds to produce flexible, biodegradable substrates. A method is also described for coating these lignocellulose scaffolds with metal microparticles, for example, silver microparticles, to produce highly conductive, freestanding, transparent electrodes. Figure 3C shows an example of the lignocellulose scaffold 310 coated with metal microparticles 320, for example, silver microparticles 320, dispersed in a binder. Silver microparticles 320, as the metal, or in other words, as the metallizing agent, provide high electrical conductivity that is retained even after oxidation in air and are widely available as a component of inks for functional printing.

[0035] Fig. 3D shows an illustration of the silver microparticles 320 that bind to lignocellulose fibers 330 (which occur in nature bundled as macrofibrils).

[0036] The plant leaf scaffold 310 coated with metal 320 (for example, with metal microparticles 320) vividly represents an electrode. In various examples, in order to achieve the lowest possible electrical film resistance, the plant leaf scaffold 310, for example the lignocellulose fibers 330, can first be subjected to a corona discharge treatment (CDT) (e.g., with a 10 kV handheld device) for surface treatment, which generates partial anionic charges on the lignocellulose fibers 330.

[0037] Fig. 4A shows the plant leaf framework 310, which vividly represents 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 a corona discharge treatment (CDT), which generates partial negative charges 406 on the plant leaf framework 310, for example, on the lignocellulose fibers 310 (see Fig. 4B). The corona discharge treatment thus creates activated sites on the lignocellulose surface by deprotonating the functional hydroxyl (-OH) and carboxyl (-COOH) groups, leading to the effective negative charge 406 of the structure. The use of CDT offers the advantage of solvent-free and environmentally friendly dispensing.

[0038] 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 (PET) as an adhesion promoter 410 (see Fig. 4C). The silver microparticles 320 bind strongly to the lignocellulose microstructures, i.e., for example, the lignocellulose fibers 310, as shown in Fig. 4D, so that a plant leaf framework electrode 412 is formed. In other words, when the lignocellulose fibers 310 are immersed in 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. 4D. shown.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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 manufacturing process can easily be mass-produced without leaving a large carbon footprint.

[0041] 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, so that the release of ions can be controlled based on external factors such as heat, light, concentration of biological compounds, etc., which in turn would lead to an oligodynamic biocidal effect.

[0042] Furthermore, the plant leaf scaffolds can also be used as a mechanical filter, as they have an average pore size of approximately 250 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 electrically burn away the accumulated deposits from time to time to restore the filter to its original condition.

[0043] Tests have shown that the leaf electrodes achieve excellent results in purifying water of disease-causing microorganisms such as E. coli (Escherichia coli), as illustrated in Figure 5A in a first diagram 500 and in Figure 5B in a second diagram 510. The effect is reproducible either with passive electrodes or with a smaller number of electrified (i.e., active) electrodes.

[0044] 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).

[0045] Fig. 5B shows in the second diagram 510 an antibacterial effect when a voltage of 1 V is applied (third

[0046] Characteristic curve 512) and 2 V (fourth characteristic curve 514) current was passed through the leaf electrodes placed in contaminated water.

[0047] In various aspects of this disclosure, copper may be provided as an alternative or additional metal. The use of silver can be reduced without compromising the high conductivity and quasi-transparency of the resulting copper-coated plant leaf electrodes. For this purpose, the silver microparticle ink 408 can first be diluted with organic solvent to reduce its viscosity by an order of magnitude without altering the original silver microparticle content. This results in a relatively low conductivity of the coating when the CDT-treated frameworks are metallized. The layer resistance increases by about two orders of magnitude (~70 Ω) compared to what is achieved with the undiluted silver microparticle ink 408 (0.5 Ω). This reduced amount of silver serves as a nucleation layer for the deposition of copper during electroplating, for example, in a CuSO₄·5H₂O bath.

[0048] This process leads to a copper-based metallization of plant leaf scaffolds, e.g. lignocellulose scaffolds.

[0049] Fig. 6 shows a flow diagram illustrating a process 600 for damaging bacteria, viruses and / or fungi.

[0050] 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.

[0051] The bacteria and / or viruses and / or fungi can be provided in a liquid in which the metal of the leaf vein structure is at least partially immersed.

[0052] 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.

[0053] The method may further include 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 several leaf veins is coated with the metal.

[0054] 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 coat it, thus forming 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.The process 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] The following section will explain various aspects of this description in more detail.

[0057] 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.

[0058] In Example 2, the object 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 at least partially immersed.

[0059] 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 ]im (for example without applying an electrical voltage to the leaf vein structure).

[0060] 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, e.g., 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, e.g., an electrical voltage in a range of approximately 2 V is applied to the leaf vein structure).

[0061] 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.

[0062] In Example 6, the subject matter may 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, 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.

[0063] 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 several leaf veins is coated with the metal.

[0064] 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.

[0065] 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.

[0066] In Example 10, the item may optionally have any of Examples 7 to 9, wherein the metal ion solution has 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; bismuth ions; aluminum ions; and / or gold ions.

[0067] In Example 11, the article of any of Examples 7 to 10 may optionally include that the metal ion solution has a viscosity in the range of 5 Pa⁻¹s to 50 Pa⁻¹s. In Example 12, the article of any of Examples 1 to 11 may optionally include that the process further comprises 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.

[0068] 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.

[0069] 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.

[0070] In Example 15, the object of Example 14 may optionally have the metal forming a metal layer on the leaf vein structure.

[0071] In Example 16, the object of Example 15 may optionally have a metal layer that is silver.

[0072] In Example 17, the article of any of Examples 14 to 16 may optionally include a polymer layer between the leaf vein structure and the metal. In Example 18, the article of Example 17 may optionally include a polymer layer that comprises or consists of chitosan.

[0073] In Example 19, the article may optionally include any of Examples 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.

[0074] 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.

[0075] 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.

[0076] 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.

[0077] Example 23 is the use of a metal-coated leaf vein structure from a biological plant leaf skeleton as a water filter.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Procedure, 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 pm.

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 for producing a metal-coated leaf vein structure, wherein the leaf vein structure has multiple leaf veins, and for using the same for Damage to viruses, fungi or bacteria, comprising the process of: treating a 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; and bringing 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, so 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 means of the oligodynamic effect.

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 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 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 has a pre-treated leaf structure, so that the coated leaf vein structure is formed.

9. A 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 erions; • 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 during damage to the leaf(s). bacteria and / or viruses 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 comprises or is a silver layer.

17. Device according to 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 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 one of claims 14 to 19, further comprising: a power supply interface for connecting the device to a power source.

21. Device according to one of claims 14 to 20, further comprising: an energy source, configured to apply an electrical voltage to the leaf vein structure.

22. 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 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.

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