It is well known that asthma is a serious chronic condition affecting an estimated 17 million Americans that entails an annual economic cost to our nation of $11.3 billion. In this regard, researchers at the Particles Science and Technology ERC at the University of Florida (EEC 9402989), in collaboration with the School of Pharmacy, have adapted a laser ablation process previously used by the center to coat ceramic particles to coat the tiny drug particles contained in asthma inhalers with a polymer layer 1000 times thinner than a human hair. The coated drugs dissolve over a period of several hours, reducing the need for frequent inhaler use and minimizing the unintended, potentially harmful, release of excessive doses of the drugs into the blood stream. The ERC is collaborating with a spin-off company, Nanocoat, Inc., to develop designer-coated asthma inhaler drugs for timed release, and initial animal experiments have been very positive.

Water borne illness due to microbes costs the U.S. over $20 billion annually in lost productivity. Removal of microbes, particularly viruses, from water also impacts pharmaceutical and microelectronics manufacturing. Researchers at the Particles Science and Technology ERC at the University of Florida (EEC-9402989) have developed a technology to modify the surfaces of filter media (granular, woven, non-woven) to greatly enhance the removal of microorganisms and nanoparticles. Coatings of cationic surfactant or hydrous metal oxides (iron, aluminum) remove nanoparticles and microorganisms from 10% to 70% more effectively than conventional technologies. The surface modification technology was successful in enhancing the removal of particles over a wide range of sizes, from viruses (20 to 60 nanometers) to nanoparticles (70 nanometers), bacteria (500-2000 nanometers), and Cryptosporidium (4000 to 6000 nanometers). Cryptosporidium, which causes severe and sometimes fatal gastroenteritis, has been detected in 77% of rivers, 75% of lakes, and 28% of treated drinking water in a recent US survey. In the United States, almost half a million cases of the disease have been reported since it was identified in 1976. Globally, there are anywhere from 250 to 500 million cases reported annually. Discussions are underway with several potential licensees to commercialize the ERC coating technology.