Mold Prevention from Mold Solutions of Minnesota at microbeguardmn.com

ANTI-MICROBIAL HISTORY

MICROBE GUARD TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

"Building our Future on A History of Confidence"

This brief document is intended to provide the reader with background information on the antimicrobial used as a keystone in Microbe Guard’s antimicrobial technology. You, the potential user of Microbe Guard’s antimicrobial technology, can benefit from a basic understanding of the following information on its chemical, physical and biological properties. The exceptional value of the Microbe Guard Antimicrobials at providing long-term protection against bacteria, fungi, and algae and their staining, odors, defacement and human health effects is played out in a myriad of medical, consumer and commercial products. Registered with the EPA in 1976 and used commercially since that time, the technology has been reviewed and re-reviewed by hundreds of large and small companies and academics, and confirmed in the real world by more than 26 years of problem-free use and daily contact with millions of consumers.

The History - Dow Corning Corporation, the largest supplier of silicone and silane chemicals in the world, began a pure research program in the late 1960's aimed at seeing if they could utilize organofunctional silanes as pesticides. They asked, “Could pesticides now be made that would not migrate into the environment by leaching or volatizing by tying them to target surfaces with a silane?” The outcome would be safer, more efficient, and more effective pesticides. A tremendous variety of chemicals were made and tested. These included all kinds of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and bactericides. The screening tests included standard ASTM protocols, other standard tests, and a variety of toxicological and environmental impact reviews. Out of this work came several patents and a focused effort on a particularly promising group of antimicrobials. This brought the most promising of materials into the commercialization stages of Dow Corning's staging system. Because of the trem endous expen se of staging a material for commercialization, especially one with EPA regulatory oversight, careful consideration is given each step. Passing the Dow Corning internal performance, safety and utility screens is often more difficult than dealing with regulatory agencies or with customers. By 1974, Dow Corning was moving aggressively toward full EPA registration and commercialization.

Scientific Validation - Important in this time frame was the publication of several technical papers in both chemical and microbiological technical journals. The significance of these publications is that noted scientists in these respected disciplines reviewed the work, recognizing the merit of this new and unique discovery and allowing such publications to be printed as scientific fact. Scientific publication with "peer review" is the beginning of a checks-and-balance system that the scientific community uses to sort out verifiable discoveries from casual observations. Subsequent to these original publications, ten additional peer-reviewed papers and chapters to books have been scientifically peer-reviewed and published. The quality of the data and the uniqueness of the discovery were such that the manufacturer was granted Industrial Research Magazine's prestigious IR-100 Award. Submissions for this award are scrutinized by scientific review boards.

Commercialization and Real World Experience - Commercialization of this antimicrobial technology began in 1976 after it received EPA registration under what are called "modern" standards of review. Years of research by Burlington Industries, outside laboratories, and Dow Corning verified the safety and utility of using this technology on direct human contact goods such as socks. Burlington's Bioguard brand socks revolutionized the marketing of that product. Parallel to this project, American Hospital Supply Corporation (now part of Baxter International) was reviewing the use of antimicrobials on surgical drapes and other medical non-woven products. The stringent rules governing the use of any particulates or chemicals that could enter the body via a wound made this review protocol very severe. Every available antimicrobial, both medical and industrial, was screened for basic toxicity, effectiveness against the types of microorganisms encountered in surgery, compatibility with the v ariety of physical, chemical, and biological contaminants found on fabrics and in wounds, and most importantly, the agent's durability to leaching. The consequences of contamination into a wound area are profound. Formation of granules, granulosis, fibrin clots, and coagulation in the blood stream can cause clogging of critical blood vessels, resulting in death. This work eliminated all other antimicrobials except what is known today as Microbe Guard Antimicrobial. American Hospital Supply Corporation, outside university laboratories, and private laboratories contributed over thirty (30) studies verifying the safety and performance of this technology in medical use. FDA listings were obtained and ISO-BAC® Medical Nonwovens were introduced to the market in 1979 and are still being manufactured today.

The Present - Microbe Guard, Inc. is a chemical manufacturer of patented antimicrobial products that delivers unmatched performance and durability. Our exclusive patented technology (3 U.S. and 7 worldwide patents) was invented by Emory University and licensed exclusively to Microbe Guard, Inc. The innovative properties of Microbe Guard’s technology offers an environmentally safe antimicrobial that does not leach or wash off, and is easy to apply to most surfaces. The primary antimicrobial technology contains no heavy metals, formaldehyde or phenol groups, and is environmentally friendly. Unlike other antimicrobial products, Microbe Guard's antimicrobial has never been shown to allow or cause microbial adaptation, resistance, mutation, diffusion, or migration. It is significantly different from conventional sanitizers, disinfectants, or biocides that are extremely toxic and contaminate the environment with undesirable chemicals. Some of the d ifferences are in its chemical nature, effe ctiveness, durability and lack of environmental hazards. The Microbe Guard technology has a unique advantage over all previously known methods and applications because the antimicrobial component material is bonded to the cell or surface. Microorganisms are then destroyed by simple contact with the surface. Microbe Guard antimicrobial products bond to almost any surface, creating unlimited applications for this breakthrough technology.

Unlike most other biocides, Microbe Guard antimicrobial is effective against single-celled organisms. Because it does not dissipate, it minimizes or eliminates the potential for microorganisms to adapt, build up tolerance, or become resistant to it. It acts by rupturing the cell membrane, not by poisoning the cell. By contrast, most other antimicrobials, sanitizers and disinfectants are designed to diffuse and be absorbed. Once absorbed, they act by poisoning the microorganisms or causing fatal mutations. However, as they diffuse, they lose strength, and adaptation can and usually does occur. Unlike conventional biocides and anti-viral drugs that are designed to volatize and be absorbed by organisms, Microbe Guard antimicrobial is a durable, broad spectrum antimicrobial that chemically bonds to, and literally becomes part of, the application surface. Most surfaces remain antimicrobial for an extended period of time. Microbe Guard antimicrobial acts as microorganisms come into direct contact wi th it. Since the antimicrobial is not absorbed by organisms, but remains a part of each application surface, it in effect transforms conventional surfaces and materials into active antimicrobial surfaces. These surfaces will remain effective for extended periods, which results in a significant reduction of some viruses and infections caused by airborne microbial contaminants.

The Future - These historical insights, along with the sales, technical and regulatory support resources of Microbe Guard, Inc., should provide complete confidence in the validity of this technology as a valuable feature in a wide variety of commercial and consumer products. It's not defensive to ask, "Could all of these big, high-tech companies be wrong?" It is, instead, fully supportive of the value and safety of this technology. We hope this information is of value to you and can help us to provide you and your customers with the best technological innovation supported by quality sales and services.