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Hygiene function

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Material protection

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Natural technologies

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Paint preservation

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Virus protection

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What Are Antimicrobials?

An antimicrobial is a substance that can destroy microorganisms or inhibit their growth, and the term is used primarily in relation to hazardous microorganisms (not to beneficial microbes). When discussing antimicrobials, it is important to understand what a microbe is to begin with. As the name suggests, a microbe, or microorganism, is a microscopically small organism that may exist as a single or multi-celled organism. The term microorganism includes the following types: bacteria, viruses, archaea, fungi, algae and yeast.

Of these types of microbes we tend to be the most familiar with bacteria, viruses and fungi. These are typically the microorganisms which are the most present (and often problematic) in our everyday lives.

As mentioned above, the term antimicrobial is most often associated with hazardous microbes. There are beneficial microorganisms which, for example, contribute to a healthy human digestive system. On the other hand, there are many microorganisms which can be harmful to humans, animals, plants and entire ecosystems, and others which can damage surfaces, cause changes to degradation, or release bad odors. Against these negative effects, we may decide to use science-based technologies to destroy or inhibit microbes – these technologies are known as antimicrobials.

What Do We Mean By ‘Antimicrobial Technology?’

Antimicrobials come in a variety of forms. We are all familiar with antibiotics, antibacterial cleaning sprays and disinfectants. There are also preservatives and treatments which can be applied to various products including fabrics, polymer surfaces, and paints to provide an antimicrobial function.

That’s what we do here at SANITIZED AG, we develop antimicrobials to be added during the manufacture of products we use every day. The antimicrobial solutions we have developed can be used in many different materials and are incorporated into the manufacturing process. By doing so, we reduce the necessity for antimicrobial solutions to be added onto products and surfaces, because Sanitized® antimicrobial solutions are already incorporated into the product, providing microbial protection without the need for reapplication.

For example:

  • Sportswear with anti-odor technology incorporated into the fabric
  • Medical rubber gloves with integrated antimicrobial protection
  • Paint that is treated with antimicrobials and therefore will not go moldy in an opened tin

There is an antimicrobial treatment for almost every application imaginable, and at SANITIZED we have an extensive product portfolio to target specific microbe varieties which may have a negative impact on specific products and applications used under specific conditions.

How Does Antimicrobial Technology Work?

There are a variety of mechanisms by which an antimicrobials can destroy or inhibit microbes. These mechanisms are also called the ‘mode of action’. Examples are: disruption of cell wall or cell membrane integrity, inhibition of protein synthesis, inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis, and inhibition of metabolic pathways.
Depending on the type of microbe we are targeting, actives with different properties and modes of action have to be selected.  As a result, we have a variety of products which are effective against different types of microorganisms and suitable for different applications and end-uses.

We provide information on how our products work against microorganisms and about specific applications on the pages above, click on each to learn more.

Learn more about our antimicrobial technologies by visiting these pages:

Hygiene function

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Material protection

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Natural technologies

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Paint preservation

more

Virus protection

more

Are you interested in finding out how the Sanitized® hygiene function can supplement your products?

We will gladly advise you and look forward to you contacting us either using the form below or directly.