How Calcium Bicarbonate Mesoscopic Crystals Are Revolutionizing Disinfection
A breakthrough disinfectant that combines powerful virucidal activity with unprecedented biosafety, offering protection against a broad spectrum of viruses without harmful side effects.
In a world increasingly focused on health and hygiene, we surround ourselves with disinfectants—alcohol-based gels, chlorine solutions, and chemical sprays. These products form our first line of defense against invisible threats like viruses and bacteria. Yet, this protection comes at a cost: many traditional disinfectants are skin irritants, emit toxic fumes, can damage surfaces, and pose environmental risks 1 .
To understand what makes CAC-717 so special, we need to venture into the fascinating world of mesoscopic crystals—materials that exist in the transitional zone between the microscopic and macroscopic scales. The term "mesoscopic" comes from the Greek word "mesos," meaning middle, and these structures typically range from 50 to 500 nanometers in size 2 .
| Property | Description | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Particle Size | 50-500 nanometers | Optimal for interacting with microbial structures |
| Solution pH | 12.4 | Creates microbicidal alkaline environment 1 |
| Skin Contact pH | ~8.4 | Non-irritating and safe for direct application 1 2 |
| Key Components | Mesoscopic calcium bicarbonate crystals | Unique structure enables virucidal activity |
| Electrical Properties | Self-electromotive force generating pulsed electrical fields | Enhances microbial destruction 1 |
As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, the need for effective disinfectants against SARS-CoV-2 became urgent. In 2021, a team of Japanese researchers conducted a crucial experiment to determine whether CAC-717 could meet this challenge 4 .
Tested several SARS-CoV-2 strains, including the original WK-521 strain, alpha, beta, and gamma variants, and delta variants 4 .
Mixed virus samples with CAC-717 at different dilution ratios (1:9, 1:49, and 1:99) with contact times from 15 seconds to 5 minutes 4 .
Added HEPES buffer to neutralize the alkaline solution after treatment periods 4 .
Applied treated virus samples to VeroE6/TMPRSS2 cells and monitored for cytopathic effects 4 .
(1:49 Dilution, 15 Seconds Contact Time)
| SARS-CoV-2 Strain | Variant Type | Reduction in Viral Titer (log10 TCID50/mL) |
|---|---|---|
| WK-521 | Original | 4.4 |
| QK002 | Alpha | 3.6 |
| TY7-501 | Beta | 3.8 |
| TY8-612 | Gamma | 3.9 |
| KH-1 | Delta | 3.7 |
While the SARS-CoV-2 experiments demonstrated impressive results, the true potential of CAC-717 emerges from its remarkably broad spectrum of activity against diverse virus types. In a comprehensive 2022 study, researchers tested CAC-717 against 22 different viruses representing all major categories of animal viruses 1 3 .
| Virus Category | Example Viruses | Reduction (log10) |
|---|---|---|
| Enveloped ds-DNA | Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus | 3.50-4.50 |
| Non-enveloped ds-DNA | Bovine adenovirus 7 | 3.75 |
| Non-enveloped ss-DNA | Canine parvovirus 2 | 3.00 |
| Enveloped ss-RNA | SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A virus | 3.60-4.40 |
| Non-enveloped ss-RNA | Feline calicivirus | 3.38-4.25 |
| Non-enveloped ds-RNA | Bovine rotavirus | 4.25-6.38 |
CAC-717 greatly reduced genomic RNA in most RNA viruses, suggesting direct destruction of genetic material 1 .
CAC-717 did not significantly reduce genomic DNA but likely compromises viruses through protein structure damage 1 .
Self-electromotive force generating pulsed electrical fields enhances microbial destruction 1 .
The development of CAC-717 comes at a critical time when global demand for effective disinfectants is higher than ever, yet concerns about the side effects of conventional products are growing.
Presents a low environmental burden compared to chemical disinfectants 4 .
Behind the discovery and development of CAC-717 lies a sophisticated array of research tools and materials that enabled scientists to unravel its properties and potential.
| Research Tool/Reagent | Function in CAC-717 Research |
|---|---|
| VeroE6/TMPRSS2 Cells | Specialized cell line used to propagate and titrate SARS-CoV-2 4 |
| HEPES Buffer | Used to neutralize CAC-717's alkalinity after treatment periods to stop disinfecting action 4 |
| Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) | Added to virus suspensions to test how organic material affects virucidal activity 1 |
| Ethanol Disinfectant | Served as a reference standard to compare CAC-717's effectiveness against conventional disinfectants 4 |
| Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) | Used as a model organic substance to simulate real-world conditions where disinfectants must work in the presence of bodily fluids 4 |
| Electron Microscopy | Enabled visualization of the mesoscopic structure of CAC-717 particles (50-500 nm) 2 |
| Real-time PCR | Allowed researchers to quantify viral genomic material before and after treatment to study mechanism of action 1 |
The discovery of CAC-717 and its remarkable virucidal properties represents a paradigm shift in how we approach disinfection.
The story of CAC-717 reminds us that sometimes the most powerful solutions come from unexpected places—in this case, from the simple combination of calcium bicarbonate, water, and electricity, transformed through scientific ingenuity into a tool that may fundamentally change how we protect ourselves from infectious diseases in years to come.