Foamille against bioaerosol

I am a medical doctor specialized in Blood Diseases (i.e. Hematology) with a PhD in "Biotechnology in human bone marrow transplantation". I have been a Post-doctoral Fellow in the Division of Oncology at Stanford University (USA). I am currently Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia (Italy). I have produced over one hundred publications on international scientific journals, I am author of three patents. I am a member of international collaborative research groups, and I am passionate about helping immunocompromised patients (and people in general) to live a more fulfilling life. That’s why I developed this project and created the innovative foam “Foamille” which will help people stay safe when they are away from home.

Public toilets represent a potent source of infection because of their high frequency of use and reduced hygiene. During urination and after flushing, an aerosol (bioareosol) is produced that spreads well beyond the bowl itself thus yielding hygienic problems and leading to infections. In returning to everyday life after the emergency phase linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, billions of people worldwide will spend most of the day away from home, either for work or free time, and they will have to use public toilets. We propose to use an innovative foam, with specific persistence and adhesion properties, that traps urine droplets and inhibit the formation of aerosol from the impact of liquid jets on walls. A foam layer, sprayed into the toilet bowl, can revolutionize/innovate the use of public toilets, avoiding the spread of viruses and bacteria.

The frequency of urination is approximately four to seven times a day, for a total of about 1000/2000 ml of urine per day. Overall, in our lifetime we spend over 100 days urinating. The use of public toilets has always been a problem for the risk of infections. As reported in the medical literature, many bacteria and viruses, when seeded into toilet seats and in the bowl, can spread through direct contact (78%) and through aerosol droplets (81%), able to travel and to reach even the lower respiratory tract (Verani M. 2014).

In the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies highlighted that toilet bowls and sinks were sites of contamination with SARS Cov2, suggesting that toilets are indeed a potential site of transmission. Chinese scientists showed that many patients have contaminated faeces, even after pharyngeal samples were negative (Chen C. 2020, Ong SWX. 2020). During urination it is impossible to prevent bioaerosol formation by conventional means.

Moreover extensive sanitization of walls and all the ceramics in every single restroom after each  person is not always feasible, it is expensive, it is time consuming, and can lead to excessive usage of detergents which are harmful for the people and for the planet.

Foamille is a specific foam able to completely suppress the generation of droplets and of bioaerosol in bathrooms. It can be easily sprayed into the toilet bowl before using it and can be flushed away, with the standard amount of flushing water once the urination is completed. The foaming composition presents important characteristics: it contains biodegradable components which are environmental friendly, it has a cleaning action, it is not toxic for humans or harmful for the surface, it is stable regardless of temperature, humidity, and ventilation conditions, it does not leave any visible and unpleasant residual (smell or appearance), it prevents aerosol droplets formation under several urination conditions (amount of fluid, flow rate, height, geometry of the vase, etc.), it is useful to use outside home or on travel, a widespread use would reduce the need for frequent sanitization.

As we begin to live in the new normal world, to use a public restroom can become a problem. Our solution is useful for anyone who needs to use a public toilet. The specific foam can be used in medical facilities (private and public hospital, nursing homes), workplaces (public offices, companies, banks, schools and universities), transportation (stations, trains, ferries, cruise ships and airplanes), consumer uses (restaurants, hotels, spas, theatres, cinemas, public events), and it can also be used by people who travel and/or spend a lot of time away from home.

Public restrooms are places full of germs, where the probability of contracting diseases is extremely high. Therefore, the hygienic conditions of public toilets can play an important role in the transmission of infections. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to design public places for the new normal. We would like people to spend time away from home again, and everyone need to use public toilets. We propose a new special foam named Foamille, an innovative solution which will radically change the use of WC. Foamille will finally allow us to urinate and use the toilet flush safely.

Our project was born about four years ago, when my work and personal experience with immunocompromised patients crossed with the fluid dynamic skills of Roberto Verzicco, Professor of Fluid Dynamics in the Department of Industrial Engineering University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, a longtime friend and colleague. Together we began to analyze hygienic conditions of public toilets within the hospital and a close scientific collaboration began, to solve the problem of bioaerosol formation and spread of infections in these places full of germs. An intense research was necessary to study in great details the physics of the urinary flow and its interaction with the different toilet seats geometries. Subsequently, an extensive experimental campaign has been necessary to tune the optimal foam composition with specific persistence and adhesion properties, capable to trap urine droplets and to prevent the aerosol formation, to account for different temperature, humidity and ventilation conditions, to obtain a stable, safe and biodegradable product.

I have been a haematologist for many years, and I often deal with immunocompromised patients. I see very fragile people nearly every day, and they constantly struggle in their daily life as they are prone to getting infections. In particular, usually after a long period spent in a hospital room, patients really want to go out in the world where they contract infections, also due to the use of shared restrooms. For this reason, years ago, my colleague Roberto Verzicco and I started to study the infectious agents that spread in public toilets during urination and after flushing.

Currently, our team of scientist is multidisciplinary and covers different fields of science Medicine, Biotechnology, Engineering and Mathematics. The different backgrounds are a precious resource because they allow a wider perception of problems. We all share curiosity, willing to face new challenges and carry on research studies with immediate application on human lives and possibly which can positively impact them. We believe that Foamille not only can improve millions of lives worldwide during this COVID-19 pandemic, but it can also increase people awareness on hygienic conditions in public toilets, thus leading to changing habits and improving lives.

I am a medical doctor and a Professor of Medicine (Haematology) in the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Italy. My research interests include the generation and diagnostic development of monoclonal antibodies, the development of immunotherapy through computational biology. I am author of three patents and I have a passion for innovations that can help people live a more fulfilling life. I have served the international scientific community for over two decades by joining evaluation panels, organizing international conferences, and leading well-funded large multi-disciplinary projects. I am well recognized professor in my field and I have a proved impact carrier with a track record of professional successes. Having this background, I am uniquely positioned to deliver this project and solve the problem of creating a safe environment in public toilets.

When we started this project four years ago, and we began to analyse the problem of infections in public toilets, an intense study was necessary to better understand the bioaerosol formation during urination and after flushing, the physic process of the urinary flow and the different toilet seats geometries. Unfortunately, we discovered that is impossible to design the perfect WC (one in which there is no aerosol spreading during urination) due to the great numbers of variables influencing the final result.

It was not easy to arrive at the perfect chemical formulation of the foam and an extensive experimental campaign was conducted to test different temperatures, humidity, and ventilation conditions, to obtain a stable, safe, and biodegradable product. The present foam is basically different from those already available from the market (detergents, shaving foams) and its specific formulation has been obtained after a long series of experiments to obtain, in addition to the suppression of the bioaerosol, specific features of persistence and adhesion. Our product is one of a kind, could be useful for everyone and able to change the use of public spaces (and public toilets) forever.

I am a well-recognized leader with a proved impact career with a track record of professional successes. During my professional path, I have covered several important roles, as member of different research groups for prestigious projects (ministerial projects, AIRC Foundation - the Italian Association for Cancer Research, AIL Foundation - the Italian Association against Leukemia). I am currently holding a grant from the Ministry of Health, in Italy, and funding for a regional project. I have also been a member of the Biological Studies Commission of the Italian Lymphoma Foundation. For some years I have been the leader for the Puglia region of FameLab, the world’s leading science communication competition.

Our team of scientists proposes a new solution that would make significant improvements in problems of sanitation of public places, like public toilets, schools, universities, hospitals: an innovative foam, different from all those already existing, to prevent bioaerosol generation in public toilets. On the market, many products have cleaning and sanitizing properties, but Foamille is the only one able to trap urine droplets and to inhibit the formation of aerosol generated by the impact of liquid jets on walls and the subsequent toilet flushing. n.102020000006820).

Indeed, despite all new configurations of toilet bowls or urinals, the impact of the urine flow upon the fixture walls or water reservoirs within creates a backsplash of droplets travelling towards surrounding surfaces, and the user of toilets or urinals. Foamille is a unique product as it is not only a detergent and a sanitizer but it is the first foam able to inhibit bioaerosol and to prevent the spread of infective agents.

The hygienic conditions of public toilets and specifically of toilet seats can play an important role in the transmission of infectious diseases. The bioaerosol produced during urination and after flushing, contains countless virus and bacteria which can spread both through direct contact with the surfaces on which it is deposited or by inhalation, reaching the lower part of the respiratory system (Gerba CP. 1975). The production of bioaerosol in public toilets was observed for the first time in the ’50  by Jessen and thanks to subsequent studies it was possible to demonstrate that droplets of bioaerosol remain suspended for some minutes after flushing, even after the water has evaporated (Johnson DL. 2013).

Moreover, with the arrival of COVID-19 pandemic, our habits are radically changing. The fear of contagion leads us to avoid crowded places, thus making the return to normality after the emergency phase hard to face and complex. This tendency negatively affects social behaviors and economic activities. We need our kids to go to schools, we need to use public transportation, we need to resume travelling and for all this happening we need to use clean and safe public toilets. The use of our foam Foamille will allow us to urinate and use the toilet flush safely, without infectious agents around or on us. So, we will have cleaner and more sanitized toilets everywhere thanks to this innovative product able to eliminate the formation of bioaerosol. Foamille will be useful for COVID-19 pandemics, for other upcoming infections, but also for everyday life away from home. It is a special foam, unique of its kind, and a common and constant use would reduce frequent sanitization. The project is to provide spray bottles for single users and an automatic dispersion system for toilet bowls, with a position sensor capable of distributing the foam for each new user, and subsequent refill cartridges for any kind of companies, offices, and associations. Therefore, our innovative approach against COVID-19 has the potential to positively impact all human lives worldwide, it is feasible, scalable and it is environmental friendly.

Currently the foam has been extensively tested but it’s not on the market yet. The bottle spray has already been developed, moreover the whole team is working to design an automatic dispersion system, with a position sensor capable of distributing the foam for each new user.

We have potential to reach millions of users within one year and billions in five years.

Already within the next year, we hope to distribute the product all over the word.

We thought Foamille as a spray can or on an automatic dispenser system especially in all public toilets but also for private customers. The idea is to realize also a pocket version to be used during travels or in places where it is not provided.

Providing this foam in all public toilets of offices, schools, airports, universities etc. will make people confident despite of the Covid-19 pandemic.

We plan to sign commercial agreements with distributors to pursue a B2B logic. In addition, in the next few weeks, we plan to submit a scientific paper.

We have an active industrial plant ready to produce the foam with low production costs and great availability of all the chemical components. In 5 years, we plan to scale up and explore many markets worldwide, also thanks to the possibility of shipping the spray can. Moreover, we plan to organize commercial agreements with foreign governments where necessary.

The principal issue is sourcing adequate funds to scale up this project and the production of the foam.

The initial funds would be used to produce a Foamille batch and to distribute it to selected Italian institutions or businesses (hospitals, universities, airports, restaurants, etc), in order to examine the preferences and needs of customers and to promote daily usage of the foam.

regulations, however we are confident that the components of the foam are already allowed to be used worlwide. Moreover, support both commercial and legal will be needed to better deal with future business obstacles.

Concerning the lack of initial funds, we are applying for grants and we are confident that we will find investors interested in the project who can help us to bring the product to the markets, with innovative strategies and advertising campaigns. Moreover, we are about to start a crowdfunding campaign that will give us the possibility of receiving additional funds and making our foam known worldwide.

Finally, we would like to expand the distribution of Foamille all over the world, despite we are conscious that this is not a straightforward process. Since we will have to face the issue of commercial agreements with other countries each with its own specific regulations, we think that through legal and technical support, we can go overcome this barrier.

We have worked hard to provide a valid solution that addresses a pressing need in our community. We are sure that our foam is a first in class product, it is easy to use and likely to be very well received by the general public.

The leading Universities are University of Foggia, University of Rome Tor Vergata and Gran Sasso Science Institute while the Universities of Pisa and Perugia are partner collaborators. The preliminary research to arrive to the exact foam formulation has been conducted in the Fluid Dynamics laboratory of Rome. The idea for the project advancement is that swab analyses will be performed in the laboratories of the University of Foggia to verify the absence of bioaerosol when using Foamille whose smallest droplets a potentially invisible by optical methods. Then a successive aim of this project would be that some final prototypes of the developed system will be installed in some of the toilets of UniRM, UniFG and GSSI in order to prove the functionality and effectiveness of the device in the everyday use. Moreover, in collaboration with the Hygiene Department of the University of Pisa the complete set-up will be tested using viral phages and all the toilet surfaces will be verified by microbiological analyses to verify the absence of contamination.

Our solution is Foamille, a specific foam to trap all bioaerosol droplets. It is a unique product of its kind that guarantees everyone to use a public space safely.

The project is to provide spray bottles for single users and an automatic dispersion system for toilet bowls, with a position sensor capable of distributing the foam for each new user, and subsequent refill cartridges for any kind of companies, offices, and associations.

Our value proposition is the use of the foam by the community to eliminate the spreading of infectious diseases in public toilets. This way, it would also be possible to reduce the need of frequent toilet sanitization and of detergents sometimes causing poisoning.

The key resources and activities are represented by a valid team to carry on the project and improve it more and more, the funds necessary to continue the design of the automatic system with sensors, for large-scale production and for distribution all over the world.

Channels and key partners are sanitizer producers, health sectors, hotel chains, banks, pharmaceutical industries, in addition to the support of our universities.

Key customers include health agencies, transport companies, schools and universities, hotels and restaurants, big companies and in general places with high traffic of people.

Currently, the expected amount of total investments is equal to $68,500 over the next two years. A relevant weight depends on the costs of advertising/marketing in order to communicate the strength of our foam and the costs of shipping to reach different international markets.

We are currently addressing multiple sources of funding:

- Applying for grants 

- Working on a crowdfunding campaign

- Seeking seed capital

Our revenue model takes roots in a B2B approach for which it will compute a royalty of 6% on the turnover generated by the partners which will produce the final product.

At the moment we have no external funding sources. We have  used funds from the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, and the University of Foggia, the Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI) to plan the preliminary phases of the project and to perform the testing procedures which have led to realize the foaming formulation.

We will need funds to further optimize dispenser shape of the spray
bottle and to exploit the preferences and needs of customers to decide
the colour and smell of the foam. Moreover, we are working to design and
realize the automatic dispersion system to obtain a homogeneous foam distribution, without wasting product. Our final goal would be to distribute the product in different countries, that could be feasible through a valid commercial and legal support.

The total estimated cost that will be required to start the Foamille project is $68,500.

For this first year we estimate $28,000 of expenses, instead for the next year we estimate $40,500 of expenses (commercial activities, marketing, advertising and promotion).

Our goal is to contain the spreading and transmission of infectious diseases due to virus and bacteria in public toilets. This is an every-day problem which in this period is underlined by the sanitary emergency of SarsCov2 in view of returning to public places. To this aim we have developed an innovative foam, with specific persistence and adhesion properties, that traps urine droplets and inhibits bioaerosol formation, due to the impact of liquid jets on the water walls, during urination and subsequent flushing which expands well beyond the cup itself. A product like this can innovate the use of public toilet all over the word.

As already mentioned we plan to develop our final product and to start distribution on the market, and for this we need experts in large-scale production/distribution and marketing.

We would like to partner up with organizations or associations that are able to financially support and advertise this project everywhere in the world. Moreover, we would like to address also communities of developing countries to improve their low hygienic and sanitary conditions.