Aclara Mask

Aclara Advanced Materials develops advanced materials for air filtration and disinfection, with a focus on visible-light-activated antiviral properties. Its AM1 and AM2 products use a combination of lightweight scaffolding, an electrospun nanofiber mat, and photoreactive dyes. Under visible light, the material generates singlet oxygen, which can rapidly oxidize viruses and bacteria. The nanofibers also create ultrafine pores for mechanical capture of airborne particles, while singlet oxygen can disrupt the infective and replication capabilities of filtered viruses.

The technology was developed in a university laboratory, tested in a Biosafety Level 2+ environment, and supported by an NSF emergency grant and Plum Spun, Inc. Plum Spun researches and develops advanced materials for the medical industry and offers licensing for Aclara AM1 and AM2 intellectual property. Its work includes research on electrospun filters for capturing and inactivating airborne coronaviruses under visible light, published in the American Chemical Society. Plum Spun brings together specialists in science, engineering, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and investment to pursue disinfection solutions for medical and non-medical settings.