Porous oxide air filters for neutralising chemicals and pathogens
Structured nanoporous oxide air filters that neutralise airborne chemicals and biological pathogens under UVA illumination. Unlike HEPA filters, they maintain smooth airflow, can be shaped to any form, and degrade VOCs and pathogens without generating ozone.
Overview
Pinpoint Medical's porous oxide air filters offer a next-generation approach to air decontamination by combining physical filtration with active photocatalytic degradation. The filters are designed to neutralise both chemical pollutants and biological pathogens as air passes through, addressing limitations of conventional HEPA filters which only capture particles without neutralising them.
The technology is particularly relevant for clinical, laboratory, and public environments where air quality and infection control are critical. By breaking down harmful gases and pathogens rather than merely trapping them, these filters reduce the risk of secondary contamination and support safer indoor environments.
Technical specifications
The filters are constructed from nanoporous oxides grown onto a porous ceramic substrate, enabling flexible manufacturing into various shapes and configurations.
Key features:
- Photocatalytic degradation under UVA illumination that breaks down volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and biological materials
- Chemical neutralisation of gases including nitrogen monoxide, benzene, benzaldehyde, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulphide
- Biological pathogen decontamination targeting organisms such as Streptococcus, C. Difficile, Influenza, and SARS-CoV-II
- Smooth airflow maintained compared to HEPA filters, reducing pressure drop and energy consumption
- Ozone-free operation with no hazardous by-products generated during photocatalytic reactions
- Validated performance: 80% degradation of benzaldehyde in approximately 1.5 minutes, 80% reduction of nitrogen monoxide in approximately 30 minutes, and bacterial cell lysis within approximately 60 minutes under UVA illumination
Technology readiness level
The technology has undergone initial laboratory validation demonstrating effective degradation of representative VOCs and bacterial cultures under UVA illumination. Future validation efforts will expand testing across a broader range of gases and pathogens of interest, using both cell culture growth assays and airborne pathogen sampling before and after filtration. Additional work will explore scalable manufacturing processes to support commercial production. The technology is currently at an early-to-mid stage of development, with proven proof-of-concept results and a clear pathway toward expanded validation and scale-up.
About Pinpoint Medical
PinPoint Medical is a UK-based medical technology company established in 2018 that specializes in developing advanced diagnostic and environmental monitoring solutions. The company utilizes proprietary biosensing technology and nano-scale detection systems to address critical challenges in healthcare, including rapid, non-invasive prostate cancer screening and the monitoring of airborne pathogens. Their primary technology platform, the Advanced Disposable Plasmonic Assay (DPA) biosensor, is designed for high-precision, real-time detection of multiple infectious agents. This sensor technology is integrated into their intelligent Air Quality (iAQ) platform, a modular system engineered to clean air and monitor for disease-related pathogens in clinical, laboratory, and public environments.
By focusing on early detection and real-time environmental management, PinPoint Medical aims to improve patient outcomes and enhance public safety. Their solutions offer a cost-effective, high-throughput alternative to traditional, more expensive diagnostic methods, helping clinicians and facilities maintain safer environments. The company, led by CEO Jason Donnelly and CTO Dr. Affar Karimullah, combines research expertise in nanotechnology and biomedical engineering to develop its product ecosystem. Their work is supported by a multi-disciplinary team that manages the end-to-end development of sensors, readers, and software platforms for automated reporting and infection control.
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