Supporting Research and Development to Improve Patient Safety

  • Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

February 20, 2019

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, today toured Polyamyna Nanotech Inc.’s laboratory space at Marine Institute, to view the progress of their work in improving patient safety by preventing hospital-acquired infections.

Polyamyna Nanotech Inc. is led by Dr. Ramesh Mani, a materials chemist, and Dr. Bala Gorityala, a medicinal chemist, and has patented a unique non-toxic coating that safely eliminates germs and bacteria on common hospital surfaces. These long-lasting antimicrobial coatings aim to reduce the presence of “super-bugs” and the spread of infections in healthcare settings, while also striving to address problems with global antimicrobial resistance.

Hospital-acquired infections can develop due to exposure to germs and bacteria in healthcare facilities or during clinical procedures. While bacterial transmission is treated by hospital cleaning products, these actions are temporary fixes, as germs return to treated surfaces. The research undertaken by Polyamyna Nanotech Inc. utilizes a unique technology which decreases resistance development in infectious bacteria. This newly designed antimicrobial coating is a permanent treatment, which eliminates ‘person to person’ bacterial transmission.

The Provincial Government is providing $124,750 in non-repayable funding to Polyamyna Nanotech Inc. to support its research and development efforts. The company has also secured a non-repayable contribution of up to $256,000 for its research and development activities from the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program.

Support for this initiative delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation and deliver better services and better outcomes for residents. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified economy and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.

Quotes
“We are committed to creating an environment where innovators and entrepreneurs can flourish. Supporting companies undertaking research and development initiatives is critical to overcoming technical challenges and providing opportunities for commercial success.”
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

“Polyamyna endeavors to develop next-generation antimicrobial technologies to prevent infections caused by CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) listed deadly pathogens, eventually striving to address the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) catastrophe.”
Ramesh Mani
Co-Founder
Polyamyna Nanotech Inc.

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Learn more
Polyamyna Nanotech Inc external link icon

The Way Forward on Technology PDF icon

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNLexternal link icon and @TCII_GovNLexternal link icon

Media contacts
Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca

Media Relations
National Research Council Canada
613-991-1491
media@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Ramesh Kumar Mani
Polyamyna Nanotech Inc.
709-771-2907
ramesh.mani@polyamyna.ca

2019 02 20 4:15 pm