Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation (PMPC), the manufacturer, importer, and distributor of Panasonic products in the country announced today that, in collaboration with a global contract research organization Texcell*1, Texcell has verified the inhibitory effect of the nanoe™ X technology with the benefits of hydroxyl radicals on the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

With the joint efforts of the government and the Filipino people, the Covid-19 pandemic seems to still pose a threat to our health. To prevent the spread of the virus, community safety guidelines and protocols are imposed nationwide especially in locations where the numbers suggest an increase in cases recorded in the Philippines. While we treat homes as the safest place we can be in during these challenging times, now more than ever is the time we should pay closer attention to the air quality in our residences. 

nanoe™ X technology, the original ionizer to generate “nano-sized atomized water particles” was developed by Panasonic Corporation. It is an electrostatic atomization technology, that collects invisible moisture in the air and applies high voltage to it to produce “hydroxyl radicals contained in water”. The decisive factor is the existence of hydroxyl radicals inside nanoe™ X.　Hydroxyl radicals are characterized by being strongly oxidative and highly reactive. 

Panasonic has been conducting research on this technology for over past 20 years since 1997 and has verified its effectiveness in a variety of areas, including inhibiting pathogenic microorganism (bacteria, fungi, and viruses) and allergens, breaking down PM 2.5 components that have adverse effects on the human body*2. 

In 2012, Panasonic conducted a virus clearance test with a third-party organization and confirmed the effectiveness of each of the 4 categories in terms of biological characteristics. Based on this result, Panasonic announced that "hydroxyl radicals contained in water" technology could be expected to have an inhibitory effect on new viruses*3.

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) of the current global pandemic is one such new type of virus and testing with Texcell has now confirmed that the nanoe™ X does have an inhibitory effect on this virus. This testing was carried out in a closed laboratory environment and was not designed to assess its efficacy in uncontrolled living spaces. 

Understanding nanoeTM X and hydroxyl radicals contained in water

Generally, hydroxyl radicals in the air have a short life span and have difficulty in generating huge quantity of hydroxyl radicals while controlling ozone generation. Panasonic utilizes a unique technology that generates hydroxyl radicals contained in water that encompasses charged water particles to give it a longer life span, and that technology produces huge quantity of hydroxyl radicals while controlling ozone generation, making it safe and effective in inhibiting new viruses.

Hydroxyl radicals contained in water have a longer life span which enhances its ability to attach onto viruses, taking away hydrogen (H) from proteins that neutralizes viruses.  In fact, Texcell test report has verified nanoe™ X device used in an enclosed 45litre enclosed box effectively inhibit novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in 2 hours.

Panasonic air conditioners and other Panasonic appliances equipped with nanoeTM X contain about 4.8 trillion per second hydroxyl radicals. Thanks to the huge quantity of hydroxyl radicals contained in water, nanoeTM X can inhibit surface-level pollutants by penetrating deep into fabric materials and inhibiting pathogenic microorganism such as bacteria & viruses, mould, allergen, pollen, and hazardous substances.

It is true that prevention is better than cure and taking care of one’s health begins at home. The new technology offered by Panasonic is a testament to how they stay true to offering new value for better living and help realise “A Better Life, A Better World” for each of their customers. This will provide Filipino families an option to be able to make sure that their homes are indeed a safe haven for them, lessening the harms of being infected by the rapidly spreading coronavirus. Aside from our homes, business establishments including restaurants, hospitals, offices, gyms, schools and more are best to utilise this technology since Panasonic air conditioners equipped with the nanoe™ X, are capable of providing 24-hour air protection.

Health is the utmost priority of every individual given the current global pandemic and with the help of companies who are working hand-in-hand to look after the welfare of every global citizen, the plight of the community in preventing the numbers of cases from growing is somehow lessened and mitigated. 

Panasonic will continue to pursue the potential of nanoe™ X technology to address possible risks associated with air pollution such as new pathogenic microorganisms, with the aim of creating healthy environments for people around the world.

For reference :

Testing of inhibitory effect of nanoe™ X on the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)　

・ Overview

A comparative verification was conducted in a 45L test space containing the novel coronavirus

(SARS-CoV-2) with and without exposure to nanoe™ X

・ Results

Over 99.99% of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) activity was inhibited within 2 hours.

Note: This verification was designed to generate basic research data on the effects of nanoe™ X on the novel coronavirus in laboratory conditions different from those found in living spaces. It was not designed to evaluate product performance.

・ Methodology and data

Organisation ：Texcell

Subject ：Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2）

Device.             ：nanoe™ X device

Method：

 - nanoeTM X device is installed at 15cm from the floor in the 45L test space.

 - A piece of gauze saturated SARS-CoV-2 virus solution was placed in a petri dish and exposed to nanoeTM X for a predetermined time.

 - The virus infectious titer was measured and used to calculate the inhibition rate.

・ Results data

Test subject Inhibition rate* Capacity Hours

SARS-CoV-2 99.99% 45L 2 hours

Notes:

*1: Texcell is a global contract research organization that specializes in viral testings, viral clearance, immunoprofiling and R&D or GMP cell banking, for your R&D, GClP, GLP and GMP projects. With more than 30 years of experience and roots within the Pasteur Institute in Paris, Texcell has a long recognized expertise in viral testing with a broad range of protocols for the detection of adventitious agents.

Texcell is the first spin-off of the Pasteur institute of Paris created in 1997.

*2: Main releases on verification cases 

- May 12, 2009：Positive effects of charged water particles on viruses, bacteria, and agricultural chemicals have been verified.

- October 20, 2009： The new influenza virus inhibition effect of charged water particles has been verified.

- February 20, 2012：Supression effect of charged water particles on pet-related allergens, bacteria, fungi, and viruses have been verified. 

- January 16, 2014：Nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particles effectively breaks down PM2.5 components and inhibits growth of fungi attached to Yellow Sand.

*3: January 26, 2012: Virus suppression effect of charged water particles has been verified by the virus clearance test. Co-verified with Charles River Biopharmaceutical Services GmbH, a German testing organization.