Cleaning

Built on Unilever’s experience and expertise in producing world-leading cleaning solutions, Penrhos Bio is developing the platform technology to benefit a range of sectors including medical cleaning, as well as industrial & institutional cleaning (hospitals, hotels, schools etc).

One example is machine cleaning

Washing machines are highly susceptible to biofilm formation. A variety of internal metal, plastic and rubber parts of these appliances harbour growth of mixed bacterial/fungal communities that are protected within the highly resistant biofilm matrix.

Biofilms formed in washing machines and dish washers can contribute to biotransformation of organic matter to generate noticeable malodour.

These biofilms can also lead to dispersion and persistence of bacterial/fungal groups, leading to disease pathogenesis. Fungi have been well documented inside washing machines, with domestically sourced fungal infections on the rise steadily over the last decades.

Reference taken from; 
Zupancic et al: PLOS ONE  | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0148166 February 11, 2016.

Environmental pressure for temperature reduction (e.g. cold cleaning) and removal of harsh, yet effective, antimicrobial ingredients (e.g. bleach), has made the situation even more challenging.

Low temperature washing cycles do not kill the biofilms, so bacteria and fungi are quickly reactivated on clothing and textiles, post-wash, resulting in odour and discolouration.Existing products often seek only to mask bad odours with fragrance, and the current machine additives market is targeting cleanliness and freshness. Increasingly, consumers are turning to additional products such as bleach to address hygiene concerns.

Our technology offers an environmentally friendly solution against biofilm build-up and contamination.  This is applicable to surfaces, as well as devices such as industrial washing machines and dryers, addressing the underlying cause, rather than the symptom.
 

Discussions are ongoing with a number of commercial partners to bring the technology to market in cleaning products for the medical and industrial/institutional markets. Trials are underway incorporating the technology into products for industrial laundry tunnels and dishwashers.

Biofilms formed in washing machines and dish washers can contribute to biotransformation of organic matter to generate noticeable malodour.

These biofilms can also lead to dispersion and persistence of bacterial/fungal groups, leading to disease pathogenesis. Fungi have been well documented inside washing machines, with domestically sourced fungal infections on the rise steadily over the last decades.

Reference taken from; 
Zupancic et al: PLOS ONE  | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0148166 February 11, 2016.

Environmental pressure for temperature reduction (e.g. cold cleaning) and removal of harsh, yet effective, antimicrobial ingredients (e.g. bleach), has made the situation even more challenging.

Low temperature washing cycles do not kill the biofilms, so bacteria and fungi are quickly reactivated on clothing and textiles, post-wash, resulting in odour and discolouration. Existing products often seek only to mask bad odours with fragrance, and the current machine additives market is targeting cleanliness and freshness. Increasingly, consumers are turning to additional products such as bleach to address hygiene concerns.

Our technology offers an environmentally friendly solution against biofilm build-up and contamination.  This is applicable to surfaces, as well as devices such as industrial washing machines and dryers, addressing the underlying cause, rather than the symptom.
 

Discussions are ongoing with a number of commercial partners to bring the technology to market in cleaning products for the medical and industrial/institutional markets. Trials are underway incorporating the technology into products for industrial laundry tunnels and dishwashers.

Biofilms formed in washing machines and dish washers can contribute to biotransformation of organic matter to generate noticeable malodour.

These biofilms can also lead to dispersion and persistence of bacterial/fungal groups, leading to disease pathogenesis. Fungi have been well documented inside washing machines, with domestically sourced fungal infections on the rise steadily over the last decades.

Reference taken from; 
Zupancic et al: PLOS ONE  | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0148166 February 11, 2016.

Environmental pressure for temperature reduction (e.g. cold cleaning) and removal of harsh, yet effective, antimicrobial ingredients (e.g. bleach), has made the situation even more challenging.

Low temperature washing cycles do not kill the biofilms, so bacteria and fungi are quickly reactivated on clothing and textiles, post-wash, resulting in odour and discolouration.Existing products often seek only to mask bad odours with fragrance, and the current machine additives market is targeting cleanliness and freshness. Increasingly, consumers are turning to additional products such as bleach to address hygiene concerns.

Our technology offers an environmentally friendly solution against biofilm build-up and contamination.  This is applicable to surfaces, as well as devices such as industrial washing machines and dryers, addressing the underlying cause, rather than the symptom.
 

Discussions are ongoing with a number of commercial partners to bring the technology to market in cleaning products for the medical and industrial/institutional markets. Trials are underway incorporating the technology into products for industrial laundry tunnels and dishwashers.

Environmental pressure for temperature reduction (e.g. cold cleaning) and removal of harsh, yet effective, antimicrobial ingredients (e.g. bleach) has made the situation even more challenging.

Existing products often seek only to mask bad odours with fragrance and the current machine additives market is targeting cleanliness and freshness. Increasingly, consumers are turning to additional products such as bleach to address hygiene concerns. Lactams offer an environmentally friendly solution against biofilm build up and contamination in household appliances, thereby addressing the underlying cause, not the symptom.

✓  Technology incorporated into mousse and spray formulations and used for field testing
✓  Both shown to deliver the technology, durable to rinses, onto surfaces and inside appliances
✓  Surfaces exhibit marked microbial growth reduction
✓  Field trials underway in areas including industrial laundry machines

✓  Lactam prototype incorporated into mousse formulation utilising standard Unilever methods

✓  Mousse shown to deliver lactam, durable to rinses, onto appliance surfaces

✓  Appliance surfaces exhibited marked microbial growth reduction