WHO'S WHO: 3 Houston innovators to know this week

University of Houston's Dr. Seamus Curran. Photo courtesy of University of Houston

InnovationMap has shared Three Houston Innovators to know this week which includes Integricote CEO, Prof. Shay Curran.

Across industries, Houston innovation leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators are coming up with creative solutions for the coronavirus or its subsequent challenges — from digital resources to reliable face masks.

Water beading (green food color added for demo) on an ordinary mask coated with Integricote Premium Hydrophobic Coating (right) and uncoated mask (left)

Seamus Curran is well-known for his work commercializing nanotechnologies, and he is pulling from his past to deal with a future demand. The professor is using a hydrophobic coating he developed nearly 10 years ago to improve the ability of surgical masks to protect against transmission of the virus.

The world is in dire need of more face masks, and Curran notes that standard masks are "somewhat porous, and especially if they get wet, they can allow the virus to penetrate." People infected with the virus, he adds, could spread it even through a mask, while people who aren't sick could still become infected, despite wearing a less-protective mask.

Curran is hoping his solution can prove to be much more effective at preventing the spread of the disease. Click here to continue reading.

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University of Houston unmasks cutting-edge technology to battle COVID-19

Dr. Seamus Curran, a professor of physics at the University of Houston, doesn’t mince words when it comes to society’s need to adjust to the new normal and don masks in public to combat the spread of COVID-19.

“We left normal in December,” Curran tells CultureMap, “and, when everyone was planning their New Year’s resolutions, little did we know that the old normal of before is gone. None of us saw that life passing away — and it was taken away by a bug 1,000 times smaller than lice. And like lice, it’s going to be with us for a long time.”

(Read full story here…)

UNIVISION 45 HOUSTON - This waterproof product can be used in home face masks to protect us against coronavirus

Integricote CEO Pro. Shay Curran shares his idea on how Integricote’s hydrophobic/water-repellent coating for fabrics can help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Any piece of fabric coated with our hydrophobic coating can make the fabric droplet/liquid/water-repellent which is the main cause of the current virus spread.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended using scarves, scarves, or a piece of cloth to create non-medical masks that help prevent the spread of this virus. The hydrophobic coating does significantly increase the ability of a coated fabric to protect us against the virus spread.

(Watch the full story here…)

Nanotech Coating Developed by UH Researchers Improves Protective Abilities of Surgical Masks

We would like to congratulate our CEO, Prof. Shay Curran, and the team for successfully developing a hydrophobic coating that can improve the ability of common masks to protect against the spread of the virus. Common masks are generally porous and can allow virus transmission when they are wet.

A snippet from the original article by-

Jeannie Kever (University of Houston)

HOUSTON, March 31, 2020— Seamus Curran never liked playing defense. Mention a problem, and he wants to take charge.

The coronavirus, it turns out, is no different. Curran, a professor of physics at the University of Houston who is well-known for his work commercializing nanotechnologies, is using a hydrophobic coating he developed almost a decade ago to improve the ability of surgical masks to protect against transmission of the virus.

“Standard masks are somewhat porous, and especially if they get wet, they can allow the virus to penetrate,” Curran said, noting that goes both ways – people infected with the virus could spread it even through a mask, while people who aren’t sick could still become infected, despite wearing a mask.

(Read more…)

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The link to Integricote’s media release about this work! https://www.integricote.com/news-events-1/2020/3/30/media-release

Coated mask

Uncoated mask

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 30, 2020

Innovative Nanotechnology Coating Could Ease Critical Shortage of Masks

Improves protection for health, emergency professionals

Houston, March 30, 2020 – Integricote has announced a breakthrough coating that creates a droplet / fluid / water-repellent barrier, making inexpensive (and more readily available) masks and other PPE products an effective way to hinder SARS-CoV-2. 

The innovative new coating, based on a decade of research and many US and international patents and filed applications, is designed to address and meet the emergency need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). It is designed to specifically deliver a protective coating for facemasks, surgical scrubs, air filters, and bed linens. 

Integricote’s founder, a 30-year nanotechnology veteran and UH professor, Dr. Shay Curran, said “At a time when specialized medical safety equipment is in critical demand and short supply, we are excited to offer a real solution to provide water repellent coatings that work on painters masks, fabrics, and vent filters made from fiberglass and fabrics. This effectively reduces the risk of any waterborne organism – including the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 – from penetrating a coated fabric.” 

The nanocoating is available now for manufacturers of PPEs. It can also be used on older out-of-date N95 masks or lower cost masks that need to be enhanced. Before using masks, scrubs, etc., have suppliers spray on the coating to give front line health workers added protection. 

“Using cloths, scarves, homemade masks, and other fabrics is not a good move. We don’t have to go there when Integricote can help now. Tell your health officials, your PPE suppliers, your governor, and other elected officials that there are other options. This is where the US needs to be winning the war against COVID-19. Our focus should be on finding a cure, doing the right thing, and protecting our frontline workers,” according to Curran. 

About Integricote: Established in 2013, Integricote is a nanocompany that has been working on water repellent coatings on many surfaces including fabrics, tarps, wood, and masonry. Integricote products and solutions are designed to improve the nature and quality of the surfaces we protect. The technology was developed in the materials/chemistry labs (Institute for NanoEnergy) of the physics department at the University of Houston.

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Contact Becky Scott at becky@integricote.com for more details on how we can help your state and local hospitals – this is not for individuals right now but for medical suppliers and manufacturers.