Antimicrobial plastic sees broader market opportunities on heels of successful biofilm test

The antimicrobial plastics market is a multibillion dollar industry that has captured the attention of numerous sectors. It is projected to grow at 8.7% CAGR through 2020, by which time it will have reached a value of $16.1 billion, according to a business report from MarketsandMarkets (Northbrook, IL). Healthcare is a key application—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate infections acquired in U.S. hospitals affect two million individuals and result in nearly 100,000 deaths annually. That is one of the areas where Poly Group LLC (West Lafayette, IN) hopes to make a difference.

The company’s antimicrobial polymer, Nouvex, is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is registered in 49 states. Nouvex provides a new way to remove and prevent bacterial contamination and the formation of biofilm that is unlike current chemicals, copper or silver, according to Poly Group.

“Biofilm forms on most untreated surfaces in moist environments and contributes to degradation, staining and odors in a multitude of situations,” said Thomas E. Hopkins, Poly Group Chief Scientific Officer. They are of particular concern, added Hopkins, because of the “difficulty in gaining access to the bacteria present in order to eradicate them. Nouvex represents a new approach to solving problems of microbial degradation of materials as well as the spread of undesirable bacteria,” he added in a prepared statement.

The technology was developed in the laboratory of Jeffrey Youngblood, a Purdue University professor of materials engineering, and was tested at an independent laboratory using the ASTM MBEC Biofilm Testing method.

“Safely removing biofilm from plastics such as thermosets and thermoplastics and other non-food products is a real challenge, and we are excited about the results of this testing,” said Craig Kalmer, Poly Group Chief Operating Officer. “This enhances our market opportunities as part of the first phase in expanding the use of Nouvex.”

When tested using EPA-required protocols, Nouvex demonstrates that, when used as directed, it is safe to the environment and provides effective material protection as a preservative, said the company. The EPA registration is based on independent laboratory testing that demonstrates the ability of Nouvex to be effective in preserving a wide variety of materials.