This disclosure is directed to methods of using compositions comprising protocatechuic acid (PCA) to kill virus including a Covid-19 virus. The compositions generally comprise protocatechuic acid, a liquid vehicle, and a stabilizer. In embodiments, the liquid vehicle comprises an alcohol and/or water. In preferred embodiments, the oil is an essential oil. In embodiments, the compositions may comprise principally protocatechuic acid, liquid vehicle, and stabilizer as the main ingredients. The compositions may be sprayed onto various products and articles of manufacture, and mammalian and human skin, to kill virus including a Covid-19 virus and to further protect the product or human skin for a period of time up to 24 hours or more. In preferred embodiments, an alcohol component kills virus on contact, and after drying, the residual surface PCA coating provides a continuing anti-viral function.

An antimicrobial metallized thin film is provided that can be quickly and easily attached to surfaces of objects. This film includes a polymer substrate onto which a metallized layer is formed. The metallized layer comprises an exposed antimicrobial metal physical contact surface. Ions from this physical contact surface destroy the viral coating and ribonucleic acid of contacting viruses rendering the viruses inactive and noninfectious. The film can be attached via an adhesive layer disposed between and in contact with the polymer substrate and the communal surface. This arrangement allows the film to economically refurbish communal surfaces with a film overlay rather than completely replacing communal surfaces with antimicrobial materials. The film mitigates the likelihood of viruses such as coronaviruses, noroviruses, rhinoviruses, and the like from spreading due to contact with the refurbished communal surfaces.

The present invention provides methods for disrupting biofilms and/or preventing the formation of biofilms along with medical items that contain a coating or covering made of compositions for achieving such disruption or prevention. In particular, the compositions of the present invention provide random-sequence peptide mixtures for use in disrupting bacterial biofilms; the random-sequence peptides having hydrophobic and/or cationic amino acids, wherein the ratio of the total hydrophobic and cationic amino acids in the mixture is predefined.

The present invention provides methods for disrupting biofilms and/or preventing the formation of biofilms along with medical items that contain a coating or covering made of compositions for achieving such disruption or prevention. In particular, the compositions of the present invention provide random-sequence peptide mixtures for use in disrupting bacterial biofilms; the random-sequence peptides having hydrophobic and/or cationic amino acids, wherein the ratio of the total hydrophobic and cationic amino acids in the mixture is predefined.

A process can be used for the preparation of an up-conversion phosphor of the general formula (I)

##STR00001##

The process involves providing i) at least one lanthanoid salt, ii) a silicate or a silicon dioxide, iii) at least one alkaline earth metal salt and at least one alkali metal salt, and iv) at least one flux. The process then involves either mixing components i), ii), iii) and iv) by grinding to obtain a mixture; or mixing components i), ii), iii) and iv) in an organic polar or nonpolar solvent that is not a protic solvent by grinding to obtain a mixture, and precalcining the mixture. The process further involves calcining the mixture, and obtaining a silicate-based up-conversion phosphor of the general formula (I), preferably after cooling the material. At least 3.5% by weight of flux is used, based on the total amount of the reactants.

The invention relates to a self-disinfecting object having a contact surface of a substrate provided for contact with a human body part, wherein the contact surface is at least regionally heatable.

Provided are 2-aminoimidazole-phenyl derivative compounds of Formula (I): which compounds are useful in methods of controlling microbial growth, such as by enhancing the effects of an antibiotic administered in combination with the compound. Compositions including these compounds, devices including these compounds, and methods of using the same are also provided.

##STR00001##

Provided are 2-aminoimidazole-phenyl derivative compounds of Formula (I): which compounds are useful in methods of controlling microbial growth, such as by enhancing the effects of an antibiotic administered in combination with the compound. Compositions including these compounds, devices including these compounds, and methods of using the same are also provided.

##STR00001##

The invention generally provides systems and methods for particle detection for minimizing microbial growth and cross-contamination in manufacturing environments requiring low levels of microbes, such as cleanroom environments for electronics manufacturing and aseptic environments for manufacturing pharmaceutical and biological products, such as sterile medicinal products. In some embodiments, systems of the invention incorporate a housing having an outer surface being a first antimicrobial surface and a touchscreen being a second antimicrobial surface. In some embodiments, substantially all of the outer surfaces of the system are antimicrobial surfaces. In some embodiments, the first antimicrobial surface may comprise an Active Screen Plasma alloyed layer. In some embodiments, the housing may comprise a molded polymer substrate and a metal coating layer bonded to the molded polymer substrate such that at least some exterior surfaces of the housing are metal coated surfaces.

A method of making an anti-microbial nano-particle containing an essential oil compound (EOC) can include the steps of: a) mixing a quantity of an amphiphilic polymer with a quantity of a solvent to produce a suspension b) heating the suspension to a processing temperature that is higher than a glass transition temperature of the amphiphilic polymer thereby formatting a plurality of polymeric micelles within the solvent, each micelle having a hydrophilic outer portion encasing a hydrophobic core and having a micelle diameter of less than about 80 nm; and c) adding a quantity of an essential oil (EOC) or components of such into the suspension so that a concentration of the essential oil compound is between about 0.2% and about 20% wt, whereby the EOC diffuses into and are encapsulated within the hydrophobic cores of each micelle.