Press Releases

October 13, 2022

World first*1 report: Plasmacluster Technology Demonstrates Effectiveness in Reducing Airborne Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 Variant)*2

Validated at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, USA

Dr. Moriya Tsuji, M.D., Ph.D. is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, a world-renowned research institute in the United States. Professor Tsuji and his colleagues have demonstrated for the first time in the world a robust antiviral effect exerted by a Plasmacluster technology developed by Sharp Corporation. The research team has found that the exposure of Plasmacluster ions to an airborne virus of a recent coronavirus variant, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 for only 15 minutes resulted in reducing the virus infectious titer*3 by 99.3%.

In this airborne virus study, a highly concentrated solution of the Omicron BA.1 variant, a mutated strain of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), was sprayed into a 102L test box*4 in the form of an aerosol followed by releasing Plasmacluster ions (ion density approximately 25,000 pcs/cm3) to verify the effectiveness of reducing airborne virus. The results showed a drastic reduction of the virus infectious titer (99.3% reduction after 15 minutes of exposure), indicating that Plasmacluster technology is vastly effective against mutated and highly infectious airborne Omicron variant.

This study was initiated in April 2020 by an inquiry about Sharp Plasmacluster technology from Columbia University, who was investigating effective infection control technology against the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). At that time, the number of infected people and deaths had rapidly increased worldwide from the initial onset of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in December 2019 and some effective measures were required. Sharp accepted the request made by Columbia University and agreed to fund the study and provided necessary test equipment. Afterwards, the study was conducted independently by the University, leading to the results outlined above.

For more than 20 years since 2000, Sharp has promoted academic marketing*5 to demonstrate the effectiveness of Plasmacluster technology at independent third-party testing institutions in Japan and overseas. Thus far, including this demonstration, 13 testing institutions outside of Japan have proven its effectiveness in suppressing the action of harmful substances such as airborne Serratia bacteria which is a source of hospital-acquired infections (Dr. Melvin W. First, US), airborne influenza viruses (Institute Pasteur, Vietnam), and clinical effectiveness in reducing the risk of tuberculosis infections in tuberculosis hospitals (National Center of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Georgia). Furthermore, the mechanism of action in suppressing viruses, fungi, and bacteria (Professor Gerhard Artmann, Germany) has been clarified. At the same time, Sharp has continued to verify the safety of Plasmacluster technology over the course of many years.

Sharp will continue to actively demonstrate the effectiveness of Plasmacluster technology not only in Japan but also internationally in order to make further social contribution.

Comments from Professor Moriya Tsuji, Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Since 2020, COVID-19 outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus has spread explosively around the world and become the scourge of humanity. It still continues to spread while continuously mutating to evade our immune system, thus posing an unceasing threat to our society. In addition to vaccination, it is desirable to employ multi-faceted protective measures to prevent wide-spread infection by SARS-CoV-2 virus. In order to conduct a study with the highly infectious Omicron variant, ensuring sufficient safety is indispensable. In this study, a reliable test could be conducted with the maximum size of test box housed in a safety cabinet which does not leak any virus. Consequently, we could conduct the study to prove that Plasmacluster ions robustly reduced airborne SARS-CoV-2 (Omicron variant) virus. It is our strong belief that the application of this Plasmacluster technology as a countermeasure against respiratory virus infections should hold great promise to our society in the future.

*1 In ion-emission air purification technologies against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 variant (as of October 13, 2022; based on Sharp findings).

*2 A type of the Omicron strain, a mutated variant of SARS-CoV-2. BA.1 is the main type that was prevalent in Japan from January to March 2022.

*3 Number of infectious virus.

*4 A specially designed test chamber placed inside a safety cabinet.

*5 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.

● Plasmacluster and the Plasmacluster logos are registered trademarks of Sharp Corporation.



Overview of Airborne Coronavirus Verification Test

• Study conducted by: Prof. Moriya Tsuji (Columbia University Department of Medicine)

 Note: Researchers who have contributed in this study: Dr. Yaoxing Huang, Dr. Manoj Nair,
  Dr. Kazuya Masuda, Dr. Hiroshi Mohri, Yukiko Tsuji, Patrick Loughlin, Dr. David D Ho

• Test space: A test box having a volume of 102 liters inside a safety cabinet

• Verification test apparatus: Virus testing device equipped with Plasmacluster technology

• Plasmacluster ion density: Approx. 25,000 pcs/cm3 (in the center of test chamber)

• Control study: Comparison using the aforementioned device without ion generation (blowing air only)

• Verification virus: SARS-CoV-2 (Omicron BA.1 variant)

• Test method:

A solution containing SARS-CoV-2 that had been highly concentrated by centrifugation was sprayed into a 102-liters test chamber and exposed to Plasmacluster ions. Subsequently, the airborne virus inside the chamber was recovered. The virus infectious titer was measured using a TCID50 assay*6.


*6 A standard assay involving inoculation of cells with stepwise diluted virus solution and checking the infectivity titer.



Figure 1. Image of test equipment

• Results:

It was confirmed that the number of infectious virus was reduced by more than 99%

following the exposure to Plasmacluster ions.

Airborne SARS-CoV-2 test results (after 15 minutes)

Virus infectious titer(TCID50/ml)

Reduction

Without Plasmacluster ions

With Plasmacluster ions

8.63x103

6.15x101

99.3%



Figure 4. Photomicrograph of cells after incubating for 3 days
with the virus containing solution, which was recovered from the test box

Researcher’s profile

Name, Affiliation, Research field

Moriya Tsuji, MD, PhD


Professor of Medicine, Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center


Research field: Infectious disease, Immunology



Major Plasmacluster technology verification organizations around the world

Plasmacluster technology developments to date (overview)



Research Institutes That Provided Data for Sharp’s Academic Marketing

Target

Testing and Verification Organization

Viruses

Columbia University Irving Medical Center, USA

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

Department of Microbiology, Shimane University, Faculty of Medicine

Evaluation of effects on cells

Columbia University Irving Medical Center, USA

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

Kyushu Sangyo University, Department of Sport Science and Health, Faculty of Human Sciences

Shibaura Institute of Technology, College of Systems Engineering and Science, Department of Machinery and Control Systems

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.

Allergens

Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University

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

Safety

LSI Medience Corporation

Odors, pet smells

Boken Quality Evaluation Institute

Animal Clinical Research Foundation

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 Delhi

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


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