hamburger
logo

Plasmacluster Technology Demonstrates Effectiveness in Reducing Airborne Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)*1, a World First*2

1

In December 2019,

an outbreak of “Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)” caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was reported, and by August 2020, more than 25 million people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 and more than 840,000 individuals died of this infectious disease in a world*5. This outbreak represents an urgent problem facing society, and demands that immediate countermeasures be taken across a wide range of fields.

2

In 2004,

Sharp demonstrated the effectiveness of Plasmacluster technology against feline (cat) coronavirus, a member of the Coronaviridae family*6. In the following year, 2005, Sharp also demonstrated its effectiveness against the original SARS coronavirus*7 (SARS-CoV), which caused the outbreak (2002-2003) and genetically similar to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Now, Sharp has demonstrated its effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 in airbornedroplets.

3

Since 2000,

Sharp has promoted academic marketing*8 to demonstrate the effectiveness of Plasmacluster technology, working in collaboratio with independent third-party research organizations around the world. Thus far, numerous independent research organizations have proven its clinical efficacy in suppressing the activity of harmful substances including new pandemic influenza viruses, drug-resistant bacteria, and mite allergens, as well as in reducing bronchial inflammation levels*9 in children with asthma. At the same time, the safety of Plasmacluster ions has also been confirmed*10. Sharp will continue to contribute to society by conducting a wide range of studies demonstrating the effectiveness of Plasmacluster technology.

Comments from Dr. Jiro Yasuda, Professor, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University

logo

Overview of Verification Test

Testing organization: National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID)/Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University

Verification test apparatus: Virus testing device equipped with Plasmacluster technology

Plasmacluster ion concentration: Approx. 10 million/cm3 (in the vicinity of the Plasmacluster ion generator)
Test space volume: Approx. 3 liters
Control study: Comparison using the device described above without Plasmacluster ion generation Validation virus: Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)
Test method
1) Pass the aerosolized virus through the test devise from the generator.
2) Recover the aerosolized virus after exposure to Plasmacluster ions.
3) Calculate the infectious virus titer of the recovered virus solution by a plaque assay*.
* A standard assay to evaluate the number of infectious virus in the sample.

Verification Test Results

Without Plasmacluster ions With Plasmacluster ions Reduction
Infectious virus titer (number of plaque) 1.76 x 104 1.54 x 103 91.3%
Infectious virus titer (number of plaque)
Without Plasmacluster ions
1.76 x 104
With Plasmacluster ions
1.54 x 103
Reduction
91.3%

Table 1.
Effect of Plasmacluster ions on infectious titer of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) suspended in air

Figure 2.
Effect of exposure to Plasmacluster Ions on infectious titer of Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

Control study: Comparison using the device described above without Plasmacluster ion generation Validation virus: Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

About Plasmacluster Technology

How Plasmacluster Ions are generated

Positive and negative voltages are applied to discharge electrodes to electrically split airborne water and oxygen molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. This creates positively charged hydrogen ions (H+) and negatively charged oxygen ions (O).

The airborne water molecules around ions like bunches of grapes, making each ion stable cluster ion.

Mechanism for Inhibiting the Activity of Airborne Bacteria

Comparison of Oxidizing Power

Active Oxygen Species

Chemical Formula

Standard Oxidation Potential [V]

OH– (hydroxyl) radical

OH

2.81

Oxygen atom

O

2.42

Ozone

O3

2.07

Hydrogen peroxide

H2O2

1.78

Hydroperoxyl radical

OOH

1.70

Oxygen molecule

O2

1.23

Research Institutes That Provided Data for Sharp’s Academic Marketing

Target

Testing and Verification Organization

Efficacy proven in clinical trials

Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo / Public Health Research Foundation

Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University / Clinical Research Support Center, University Hospital, University of Tokyo

Animal Clinical Research Foundation

Soiken Inc.

School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Technology

National Trust Co., Ltd. / HARG Treatment Center

National Center of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Georgia

Dentsu ScienceJam Inc.

Littlesoftware Inc.

National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya

Viruses

Kitasato Research Center of Environmental Sciences

Seoul National University

Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China

Kitasato Institute Medical Center Hospital

Retroscreen Virology, Ltd., UK

Shokukanken Inc.

University of Indonesia

Hanoi College of Technology, Vietnam National University, Vietnam

Institut Pasteur, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of

Infectious Diseases/Institute of Tropical Medicine,

Nagasaki University

Allergens

Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University

Fungi

Ishikawa Health Service Association

University of Lübeck, Germany

Professor Gerhard Artmann, Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Germany

Japan Food Research Laboratories

Shokukanken Inc.

Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China

Biostir Inc.

Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University

Bacteria

Ishikawa Health Service Association

Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China

Kitasato Research Center of Environmental Sciences

Kitasato Institute Medical Center Hospital

Dr. Melvin W. First, Professor Emeritus, Harvard School of Public Health, US

Animal Clinical Research Foundation

University of Lübeck, Germany

Professor Gerhard Artmann, Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Germany

Japan Food Research Laboratories

Shokukanken Inc.

Chest Disease Institute, Thailand

Biostir Inc.

Odors, pet smells

Boken Quality Evaluation Institute

Skin beautifying effects

School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Technology

Hair beautifying effects

Saticine Medical Co., Ltd.

C.T.C Japan Ltd.

Plant

Facility of Agriculture, Shizuoka University

Hazardous chemical substances

Sumika Chemical Analysis Service Ltd.

Indian Institutes of Technology

Working mechanism of inhibitory effects on viruses, fungi, and bacteria

Professor Gerhard Artmann, Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Germany

Working mechanism of inhibitory effects on allergens

Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University

Working mechanism of skin moisturizing (water molecule coating) effect

Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University

*1 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): The strain of coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

*2 In ion-emission air purification technologies (as of September 7, 2020; based on Sharp research).

*3 Calculated by dividing the test space volume by the flow recovery rate, assuming that the aerosol containing the virus is passing through the space at a constant speed.

*4 Number of infectious virus

*5 Based on data from Johns Hopkins University (as of August 31, 2020).

*6 Announced on July 27, 2004.

*7 Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus: The species and its viruses – a statement of the Coronavirus Study Group. bioRxiv doi 10.1101/2020.02.07.937862 (February 11, 2020).

*8 A marketing method to promote commercialization of products based on verification of scientific data on the effectiveness of a technology in collaboration with leading-edge academic research institutions.

*9 Announced on September 18, 2014.

*10 Tests conducted by LSI Medience Corporation (inhalation toxicity, eye/skin irritation/corrosion, and teratogenicity tests, plus a two-generation reproduction toxicity study)