Maximizing the capability of nanoe™ to ensure a safe and healthy environment for you and your family.
During the peak of the pandemic, many Filipinos became more germophobic and developed a heightened awareness of the importance of maintaining good health and hygiene. This increased awareness prompted people to understand the influence of the environment on their overall well-being. As a result, they developed the characteristic of being careful with their day- to-day lives. In response to this concern, Panasonic conducted further tests on nanoe™ (Nano- Sized Electrostatic Atomized Water Particle) technology to maximize its capability to prevent the presence of dust particles and specific allergens that can potentially cause allergies and asthma. The ultimate goal is to ensure a safe and healthy environment for you and your family.
Osaka, Japan – Panasonic Holdings Corporation today announced that the company, in collaboration with Professor Masafumi Mukamoto professor of the Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, has made a discovery regarding the inactivation of fungi through the exposure to nanoe™ (nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particle) technology. For the first time, they have identified that the mechanism behind this inactivation involves the destruction of cell walls and subsequent leakage.
nanoe™ is a technology that collects invisible moisture from the air and uses high voltage to produce “hydroxyl radicals contained in water”. These radicals have a strong oxidizing property and are highly reactive. It can inhibit the growth of pollutants such as bacteria and viruses, however, it has a short lifespan. Unlike free hydroxyl radicals, nanoe™ keeps the radicals contained within small water particles, allowing them to have a longer lifespan and travel over greater distances. This enables nanoe™ to inhibit the presence of airborne and adhered substances.
Many fungi are present in our living space. Some fungi release spores into the air to proliferate. As spores are extremely small, they are not visible even when they float in the air. Spores that Maximizing the capability of nanoe™ to ensure a safe and healthy environment for you and your family. settle in a new place will germinate and propagate if the environment is suitable for their growth. In our living space, they tend to propagate in damp places such as around water, in stagnant air, or in food. They are considered a problem as they contaminate the environment, and some fungi cause diseases. For this reason, prevention of proliferation is important as well as the removal of fungi that have proliferated.
In September 2011, Panasonic demonstrated that nanoe™ technology is effective in inhibiting eight major indoor molds*². Furthermore, the company classified fungi according to their sexual organ characteristics and structures, and verified the species from each category from the classification which are mainly molds and yeasts that cause environmental contamination or diseases. The company confirmed a 99% or higher inactivation effect by nanoe™ on all of them. The test result infers that the result would also apply to other unverified fungi. However, the actual mechanisms of how nanoe™ affects and inactivates the fungi were not clarified.
With the purpose of clarifying the inactivation mechanism, the company observed morphological changes caused by exposure to nanoe™. As a result, the destruction of cell walls and the subsequent leakage of constituent elements were confirmed in all three types of fungi in different categories, suggesting that is part of the fungi inactivation mechanism. Furthermore, when fungi were left standing after exposure to nanoe™ in a state where they were not inactivated, a significant reduction of the viable cell count was observed over time. This was the first time that a mechanism has been suggested where once fungi are damaged by nanoe™, the damage spreads even without continued exposure, which leads to inactivation. The longer exposure to nanoe™ the higher the inhibition rate can be expected. Note that the verification results are based on the lab environment in a closed test space and not in an actual environment.
Panasonic will continue to pursue the potential of the nanoe™ technology and provide safe and secure spaces in order to contribute to society
➢ Empirical data
▪ Verification organization:
○ Osaka Metropolitan University
▪ The target of verification:
○ Cladosporium sphaerospermum,
○ Absidia corymbifera,
○ Rhodotorula rubra
▪ Verified equipment:
○ nanoe™ generator
▪ Verification method:
○ In a 45-liter test space, a nanoe™ generator is installed at a position 10 cm from the floor surface.
A piece of gauze saturated with fungus liquid is placed in a Petri dish, it is exposed to nanoe™ for a specified period of time, and the morphology is observed using a scanning electron microscope (Figure 1) as well as a transmission electron microscope (Figure 2).
- Result
Figure 1 Morphology observation of fungi using a scanning electron microscope Deformation
was observed in the group exposed to nanoe™.
Lines in the figure indicate 1 μm.
Figure 2 Morphology observation of fungi using a transmission electron microscope
In the group exposed to nanoe™, the leakage of contents caused by damage to cell walls was observed. Lines in the figure indicate 1 μm.
➢ Empirical data
▪ Verification organization:
○ Osaka Metropolitan University
▪ The target of verification:
○ Cladosporium sphaerospermum
▪ Verified equipment:
○ nanoe™ generator
▪ Verification method:
○ In a 45-liter test space, a nanoe™ generator is installed at a position 10 cm from the floor surface.
○ A piece of gauze saturated with fungus liquid is placed in a Petri dish, it is exposed to nanoe™ for two hours, and the fungal count is measured after a specified period of time (Figure 3).
▪ Results:
Figure 3 Elapsed time, fungal count, and inactivation rate after exposure to nanoe™ An increase in the inactivation rate was observed over time without continuous exposure to nanoe™.
➢ Conclusion
nanoe™ has been proved that its inactivation effect, accompanied by changes in the form, is caused by leakage of content due to the destruction of cell walls regardless of the form and cell wall components in a study using two types of molds and one type of yeast. Furthermore, it is considered that once fungi are damaged by exposure to nanoe™ in water for a certain period of time, the damage to cell walls spreads, leading to inactivation even when nanoe™ is not exposed continuously.
➢ Principle of generation of nanoe™
The atomizing electrode is cooled by a Peltier element, which condenses moisture in the air to create water. Afterward, a high voltage is applied across the atomizing electrode and the opposite electrode to generate nanoe™ that contain OH radicals of approx. 5 to 20 nm in size. (Figure 4)
Figure 4 nanoe™ generator
Notes:
*1 Verified with two types of molds (Cladosporium sphaerospermum and Absidia corymbifera)
*2 [Press release] Verification of the effect of nanoe™ on molds - Verification of its effectiveness to suppress substances that cause mold allergens as well as the growth of mold contained in house dust and other materials
■ Video explaining these verification results
Visualization of mold floating in the room
Mechanism of inactivation of mold
Change in spore counts after nanoe exposure
Media Contact:
MEDIA CONTACT
Ms. Phoenix Manayaga
Marketing Communications Manager
Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation
phoenixdianne.manayaga@ph.panasonic.com
About the Panasonic Group
A global leader in developing innovative technologies and solutions for wide-ranging applications in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, industry, communications, and energy sectors worldwide, the Panasonic Group switched to an operating company system on April 1, 2022, with Panasonic Holdings Corporation serving as a holding company and eight companies positioned under its umbrella. Founded in 1918, the Group is committed to enhancing the well-being of people and society and conducts its businesses based on founding principles applied to generate new value and offer sustainable solutions for today’s world. The Group reported consolidated net sales of 7,388.8 billion yen for the year ended March 31, 2022. Devoted to improving the well-being of people, the Panasonic Group is united in providing superior products and services to help you Live Your Best. To learn more about the Panasonic Group, please visit: https://holdings.panasonic/global/
About Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines
Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines is the air-conditioner business sales division responsible for product marketing of Panasonic Air Conditioners in the Philippines.
Contact:
Mr. Francis Serrato
Communications & Product Planning Manager
Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines
francis.serrato@ph.panasonic.com
About Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation
Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation (PMPC) through Panasonic Philippines (sales and marketing division of PMPC) is responsible for the sales and marketing of the Panasonic brand of consumer electronics and home appliances in the Philippines. For more information on PMPC and its products, please visit our website at www.panasonic.com/ph.
Contact:
Mr. Harry Sarmiento
Marketing and Product Planning Executive Officer
Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation
harry.sarmiento@ph.panasonic.com
Mr. Nori Kurashina
Marketing and Product Planning Center Subhead
Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation
nori.kurashina@ph.panasonic.com