Antimicrobial Porous Frameworks for Microbe-Resistant PPE
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the contamination of personal protective equipment (PPE) with microbes pose significant health risks, particularly in healthcare settings, and existing frameworks lack inherent antibacterial properties.
Innovation Solution
A framework comprising hub units joined by linker units, where the shortest path between central atoms is 19 atoms or more, and/or bonded or complexed with an antimicrobial agent, exhibiting antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PPE is designed to be single-use to prevent microbial contamination, then health safety is improved, but environmental impact and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating antimicrobial agents into the PPE framework before use. This prevents microbial contamination from occurring in the first place, allowing the PPE to be safely reused without compromising health safety, thereby reducing environmental impact and cost associated with single-use disposal
Solution Approach 2:
The PPE framework exhibits self-service through its inherent antimicrobial properties. The framework actively eliminates microbes that attempt to contaminate it, providing self-protection without requiring external intervention or disposal, enabling safe reuse and reducing waste
2Reliability
If small molecule antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, then bacterial killing efficacy is improved, but bacterial resistance develops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from small molecule antibiotics to a macromolecular framework structure with persistent antimicrobial activity. The framework's large molecular size and stable structure prevent bacteria from developing resistance through conventional evolutionary mechanisms, while maintaining effective bacterial killing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining a polymeric framework structure with antimicrobial agents (such as metal ions or antimicrobial molecules). This composite approach creates a multi-functional system that kills bacteria through multiple mechanisms simultaneously, preventing resistance development while maintaining high efficacy
3Loss of substance
If PPE is reused to reduce environmental impact and cost, then sustainability is improved, but microbial contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The PPE framework exhibits self-service through its inherent antimicrobial properties. The framework actively eliminates microbes that attempt to contaminate it, providing self-protection without requiring external intervention or disposal, enabling safe reuse and reducing waste
Solution Approach 2:
The antimicrobial framework acts as an intermediary between the PPE and environmental microbes. It provides a protective interface that actively neutralizes harmful microbes while allowing the PPE to be reused, mediating the interaction between the reusable material and the biological environment
Data Source
AI summary
A framework comprising hub units joined by linker units, wherein: a) the shortest path from the most central atom of each hub unit to the most central atom of an adjacent hub unit, inclusive of the most central atoms, is on average 19 atoms or more, and/or b) the framework is bonded to an antimicrobial agent, and/or c) the framework is complexed with an antimicrobial agent.