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 The joint effort between the International Centre for Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) of Trieste, a city in the
north of Italy, and the nearby Eltech K-Laser company, was launched
last year as COVID-19 was battering the country.
They created a device that forces air through a sterilization
chamber which contains a laser beam filter that pulverizes viruses
and bacteria.
"I thought lasers were more for a shaman rather than a doctor but I
have had to change my mind. The device proved able to kill the
viruses in less than 50 milliseconds," said Serena Zacchigna, group
leader for Cardiovascular Biology at the ICGEB.
Healthy indoor environments with a substantially reduced pathogen
count are deemed essential for public health in the post COVID-19
crisis, a respiratory infection which has caused more than four
million deaths worldwide in barely 18 months.
Zacchigna hooked up with Italian engineer Francesco Zanata, the
founder of Eltech K-Laser, a firm specialised in medical lasers
whose products are used by sports stars to treat muscle inflammation
and fractures.
Some experts have warned against the possible pitfalls of using
light-based technologies to attack the virus that causes COVID-19.
A study published by the Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology in
November 2020 highlighted concerns ranging from potential cancer
risks to the cost of expensive light sources.
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 But Zacchigna and Zanata
dismissed any health issues, saying the laser
never comes into contact with human skin.
"Our device uses nature against nature. It is
100% safe for people and almost fully
recyclable," Zanata told Reuters.
The technology, however, does not eliminate
viruses and bacteria when they drop from the air
onto surfaces or the floor. Nor can it prevent
direct contagion when someone who is infected
sneezes or talks loudly in the proximity of
someone else.
Eltech K-Laser has received a patent from
Italian authorities and is seeking to extend
this globally.
The portable version of the invention is some
1.8 metres (5.9 ft) high and weighs about 25 kg
(55 lb). The company said the technology can
also be placed within air-conditioning units.
In the meantime, the first potential customers
are lining up, including Germany's EcoCare, a
service provider of testing and vaccination
solutions.
"The company aims to license the technology for
German and UAE markets," an EcoCare spokesperson
said in an email to Reuters.
(Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni; Editing by
Crispian Balmer, William Maclean)
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