Sporosan® disinfection breakthrough draws major industry interest
At the heart of the process is peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH), a highly reactive substance. This small, uncharged, nearly linear molecule can penetrate cells and trigger oxidative stress in seconds, reliably destroying microorganisms, including bacterial spores. After this reaction, ONOOH degrades within a second, leaving no active agent on the surface.
"What's unique about this process is that the active agent and its antimicrobial effect are present only briefly, yet still long enough to inactivate a broad spectrum of pathogens. Once disinfection is complete, the active agent decomposes," explains Dr Jörn Winter, managing director of Nebula Biocides GmbH and co-inventor of Sporosan®.
The fundamental difference
Conventional disinfectants – especially oxidative ones – face an inherent trade-off between broad-spectrum efficacy, material compatibility and reaction speed:
- Low concentrations are gentle on materials but require long contact times.
- High concentrations act faster but can leave residues and damage surfaces.
Sporosan® resolves this conflict: it acts in seconds, is gentle on materials and leaves no toxic residues once disinfection is complete. "With Sporosan®, any risk of harm from active agent residues on the surface is eliminated by design. Nevertheless, to ensure absolute safety, we have been continuously testing the application since 2018 – with zero negative effects recorded to date," adds Dr Ansgar Schmidt-Bleker, the company’s fellow managing director and co-inventor.
Rethinking hygiene in partnership with Meiko
"Hygiene isn't just our goal – it's built into everything we do from the start," emphasises Marijan N. Simundic, head of the Sporosan® innovation project at Meiko. A well-known manufacturer of professional cleaning and disinfection appliances, the company is now expanding its role to become a provider of all-round hygiene solutions, working closely with researchers and field practitioners. "Sporosan® embodies this philosophy: practical requirements were the starting point, and together with researchers and application experts we have achieved a level of innovation that extends far beyond Meiko products and services," says Simundic.
Keen interest and high demand among industry professionals
The response from congress attendees ranged from astonishment and curiosity to a clamour for more details. "What's the catch – and why wasn't this possible before?" was a frequent question. The answer lies in the instability of peroxynitrous acid, which previously prevented practical application. With Sporosan®, it is now possible to generate the active agent in a controlled manner, precisely time its lifespan, and tailor it to specific applications via a patented process. “This is a truly pioneering achievement,” said Professor Friedrich von Rheinbaben during his presentation. "This process is a milestone with numerous potential fields of application, many of which are already being intensively explored."
"With over 1,400 participants from across the German-speaking world, the Freiburg Infectiology and Hygiene Congress offers a central platform to highlight current challenges in hospital hygiene, infection prevention and the evidence-based treatment of infectious diseases. The event thrives on the lively exchange of views, high-calibre expertise and frank, open discussions that serve to deepen people’s knowledge and evaluate new developments in the field,” says Dr Ernst Tabori, managing director of the German Consulting Centre for Infection Prevention and Control (BZH) and organiser of the congress. It was for this reason that Freiburg was chosen as the venue to launch a scientific debate on identifying new applications for Sporosan®.
Outlook: approval and ongoing development
Sporosan® is currently undergoing the approval process in accordance with the EU Medical Device Regulation (EU 2017/745). At the same time, the process is being further tested in an ongoing device study at Meiko's laboratory – including in washer-disinfectors for use in care and hospital settings. Ultimately, Sporosan® could lay the foundation for a new generation of safer, more environmentally friendly disinfection methods.
Find out more: www.meiko.com/sporosan