New technology will help to protect Defence Forces, HSE and An Post staff against COVID-19, it has been revealed.

This week Aquila Bioscience started delivery of AntiBioAgent Decontamination Wipes (ABDs) to frontline services in Ireland, including the Defence Forces, the HSE and An Post. 

Effective decontamination

ABDs will serve as a safe and effective decontamination wipe for first-responders, healthcare workers and postal workers to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

ABDs contain components that bind to and decontaminate the surface, trapping the virus for safe disposal. Unlike other decontamination methods, which contain chemicals that can be harmful to skin, ABDs contain no harmful ingredients and can be used on skin and sensitive mucosal areas such as eyes, nose and mouth (the main portals for virus infection).

Aquila is a spin-out of NUI Galway, and the concept for this technology was driven by the Irish Defence Forces and an identified capability need in the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) protection measures.

ABD technology was developed by University researchers to safely and effectively decontaminate multiple bio-threat agents (including viruses), and its use will significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19.

'Pioneering work'

Professor Lokesh Joshi, the founder of Aquila Bioscience and vice-president for research and innovation at NUI Galway said: “It was the pioneering work done with the Defence Forces Ordnance Corps in countering biological pathogens that led to the development of the ABDs, and the hope is by now putting these in the hands of frontline workers, it will allow them to more effectively protect themselves and the people they’re helping in the fight against coronavirus.” 

Comdt Sharon McManus from the Defence Forces said: “The Defence Forces needs to innovate their procedures and technologies regularly to deal with constant challenges presented to them, as well as to gain value and efficiency for the organisation.

Relevance for biological agents

"Research, technology and innovation activities are long-term cycles and the ABDs are an example of this innovation cycle. Collaboration started with Aquila Bioscience over four years, when the Ordnance Corps identified a need for a specific PPE which would deal with chemical agents and through the research and development phases also discovered its relevance for biological agents.

"Aquila Bioscience, of NUI Galway, an Irish startup, were the ideal partners to work with in developing this product. The personal protection of our key asset, our people, is of the utmost importance to the Defence Forces.

"The Defence forces have now procured a large quantity of these ABDs and these will be distributed to our troops both at home and overseas for ongoing force protection as well as during the Covid-19 crisis.”

In welcoming the official launch of the ABwipe, VADM Mark Mellett, DSM, chief of staff, Óglaigh na hÉireann, said: “For many years I have been to the forefront in advocating for open diverse networks to sense and explore answers to challenging problems.

"In some cases we have created diverse partnerships to seize and exploit these ideas with a view to creating new technologies, with end user solutions to end user identified problems working with academia, enterprise and others.

"It was such a partnership that enabled our Defence Forces’ Ordnance Corps to collaborate with researchers from NUI Galway, as far back as 2016, to develop a cellulose based material for wipes and masks specifically designed to capture microbes such as COVID-19 virus, trapping them inside the material, thereby reducing transmission of the pathogen.

Non-chemical, biodegradable wipe

"I am delighted to see the culmination of our joint research and innovation with NUI Galway in delivering this non-chemical, biodegradable wipe for use by the Defence Forces and first responders from the HSE, An Post and others, during the COVID-19 crisis.”

While there is significant demand for ABDs from other international armed forces and healthcare providers, Aquila is currently focused on supplying public service agencies in Ireland. 

Prof Joshi said: “As we ramp up our production over the coming weeks we’ll be better able to supply some of the international agencies currently seeking our help in the struggle in their countries, and make this new technology part of the global fight against COVID-19.”