Steelcase & Sharklet: A smooth solution to a dirty problem!

Classroom furniture: Is it clean?

Research done at the University of Arizona found that desk surfaces, computer keyboards, and computer mouses ranked high in levels of five bacteria: – E. coli – Klebsiella pneumonia – Streptococcus – Salmonella – Staphylococcus aureus CBS News, October 16, 2007, 10 Tips to Reduce Germs in the Classroom [

What’s the solution? Washing hands Antibacterial cleaners/disinfectants Avoiding touching common surfaces Wear gloves/protective gear

Antibacterials An antibacterial is an agent that interferes with the growth and reproduction of bacteria. Antibacterials are most commonly described as agents used to disinfect surfaces and eliminate potentially harmful bacteria. Unlike antibiotics, they are not used as medicines for humans or animals, but are found in products such as soaps, detergents, health and skin care products as well as household cleaners. I. Non residue producing : those who act rapidly to destroy bacteria and quickly disappear by evaporation or break down like alcohols and peroxides. II. Residue producing : compounds that leave long-acting residues on the surface to be disinfected like triclosan, triclocarban(trichlorocarban) and benzalkonium. Triclosan (2-hydroxydiphenyl ethers) Trichlorocarban

EPA classification of public health antimicrobials The EPA classification of public health antimicrobials is based on their effectiveness in destroying microorganisms.  Bacteriostats : inhibit bacterial growth  Sanitizers : kill certain % of microorganisms in a given time span.  Disinfectants: destroy or irreversibly inactivate all microorganisms but not necessarily their spores.( Iodine, chlorine, phenol, Quats etc)  Sterilizers : destroy all forms of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms and their spores.

Challenge There is a demand in some settings for surfaces able to control the growth of bacteria, but there is a competing concern around the environmental and long-term human health effects of some of the chemicals used for that application.

A new way of thinking about bacterial control

What is Sharklet and how does it work? Denticles: Also known as scales, vary enormously in size, shape, structure, and extent, ranging from rigid armour plates in fishes such as shrimpfishes and boxfishes, to microscopic or absent in fishes such as eels and anglerfishes. The morphology of a scale can be used to identify the species of fish it came from. shark-denticles ae549894a2bf79372bda “Sharklet Technologies is proud to produce products with the Sharklet pattern to help make the world a healthier, environmentally safer and better place. We’re equally honored to offer a biomimetic technology inspired by the shark which will allow humans and microorganisms to coexist in a sustainable and healthy way.”

Steelcase & Sharklet: Desks that do not grow bacteria!

Biomimicry Biomimicry is the science and art of emulating Nature’s best biological ideas to solve human problems. In biomimicry, we look at nature as model, measure, and mentor.