uebkero

Coating Fabric RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ About a decade ago, Steve Michielsen was like a lot of inventors. He had a great idea, no money and only a vague plan for how to unleash his genius on the world. This week, a specially treated fabric is rolling off machines that will be used to make face masks that Michielsen thinks will kill virtually any human or animal virus on contact. The News & Observer of Raleigh reports that if the Food and Drug Administration agrees, which could happen as soon as this fall, the associate professor at N.C. State University might be part of something most inventors only dream about — a successful company. “I really do think this can change the health of the world,” he said. Those are lofty goals for LAAMScience, a humble startup that occupies an unassuming office south of the State Fairgrounds. It’s a place where CEO Chris Price maps out strategy, makes his sales pitch and signs for the UPS packages in between. But Price, who worked for several startups during his 20 years in the life-sciences field, said the early research for this product suggests it will meet its claims. He joined LAAMScience late last year. The market for masks is huge. Price estimates that several billion masks are sold worldwide each year, used by individuals, hospital staffs and others. The difference for LAAMScience is an extremely thin antimicrobial coating placed on filters within the mask. When the coating is exposed to light, it produces agents that can kill a broad spectrum of viruses, as well as many common bacteria. The reaction, which tears apart the virus, lasts only milliseconds and remains stationary at the point of contact — or in this case, the filters of the mask. That makes it impossible for viruses to develop an immunity, while keeping the reaction from reaching the person behind the mask, said Patrick Mize, the company’s chief scientific officer. The question is whether consumers will believe the company and then pay a premium for the product. Research so far has been conducted by LAAMScience scientists, which is why FDA approval is such a critical step. “We know it works,” Price said, “but FDA approval provides credibility to our statements.” Michielsen, who works at the NCSU College of Textiles, said he first thought about attaching an antibacterial coating to fabric while working at Georgia Tech in the 1990s. Unsure what that coating would be, he teamed with two associate professors at Emory University’s School of Medicine. The first results were so weak that neither school chose to patent the idea. But Michielsen stuck with it, bringing the idea with him when he came to NCSU in 2004. He hit pay dirt when the focus shifted from killing bacteria to killing viruses. Almost 100 percent of the viruses that trigger the flu, fevers, rashes and body aches were killed instantly. “The results went from ho-hum to amazing,” he said. This time NCSU and Emory agreed to patent the idea and Michielsen was asked to present his findings at a university event that showcased new technologies. One of the people who attended that presentation in late 2005 was Tom Roberg of Raleigh. Roberg is well-known in business and political circles for his work in information technology, a stint as chairman of the Wake GOP and a congressional candidate in 1998. “I listened to Steve, and I said to the person sitting next to me, ‘Someone ought to develop that and make a company,’ “ Roberg recalled. “He turned to me and said, ‘We’re looking for someone to do just that. I’m Blan Godfrey, dean of the College of Textiles.’ “ Within a few weeks, Roberg and NCSU worked out an agreement in principle to create LAAMScience. By spring, Roberg had raised about $500,000 from a dozen investors. Since then he has collected an additional $2.5 million from 30 sources. The project has hit several bumps. The coating failed to stick to the first two fabrics, which meant it could rub off on skin. When the right combination of fabric and coating was found, the drying time was so slow that it could have been measured with a sundial. But Price is confident the challenges of science and manufacturing speed have been overcome. He is eager to send the research and test runs to the FDA this spring and hopes to have approval as soon as this fall — just in time for the flu season. Though the FDA’s blessing isn’t needed to sell the product overseas, it is an obvious starting place for a company with worldwide aspirations, including Europe and Asia. In the meantime, a steady stream of media has started showing up at the NCSU textile labs. Outlets from CNN to Discover Magazine are doing features on LAAMScience, providing free publicity. And Price isn’t about to limit the company to masks, ticking off a list of possible products that might benefit from the virus-killing coating: carpets, air filters, furniture and even hardwood floor coverings. But as the company’s chief scientist, Michielsen understands how difficult it can be to make a good idea behave. That’s partly why he isn’t as quick to recite a long list of new uses. “One breakthrough at a time,” he said.