CoFilm, an antivirus permanent disinfectant technology created by ITS which received appreciation from the Provincial Government of East Java

ITS Campus, ITS News – In line with its motto, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) continues to develop innovation and technology to advance human civilization. Supports and appreciation were also given by the Provincial Government of East Java (Pemprov), who had succeeded in launching a permanent antivirus disinfectant named CoFilm, Disinfectant Coating Antivirus.

ITS Nano Technology expert, Dr. Agung Purniawan ST MEng, revealed that the CoFilm was motivated by many volatile and environmentally unfriendly disinfectant technologies. “In addition, the current pandemic conditions allow high market potential related to the use of this antiviral material,” he explained.

This brilliant work succeeded in attracting the attention of Deputy Governor of East Java, Emil Elestianto Dardak. After witnessing the application of these innovations at the Grahadi Building, Surabaya, the former Trenggalek Regent expressed his appreciation for the various innovations developed by ITS.

ITS CoFilm project team leader Royyan Wafi (right) with the Deputy Governor of East Java Emil Elestianto Dardak

“We at the (East Java) Provincial Government often open our ears and eyes to the innovations made by the youngsters in East Java. ITS is also actively innovating, especially in dealing with this pandemic,” said Emil.

Not to forget, Emil invited all Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD) within the Provincial Government of East Java to participate in buying and supporting the work of regional children. In addition, Emil also appreciated how the developers of CoFilm took the understanding of previous people and then used them in the pandemic era.

“The innovation takes local wisdom that copper can kill viruses and bacteria. Before, we did not know how this copper can be a coating. With nanotechnology, this is possible, and thus the CoFilm was born,” said Emil.

Based on Agung’s information, CoFilm is considered superior to the technology of several competitors from other countries. “Compared to the findings in Korea, which was able to eradicate the virus after 4 hours, CoFilm only needed 1 hour to eradicate 99.99 percent of the virus,” explained the bespectacled lecturer.

According to Agung, trials using CoFilm have been carried out at the ITS Medical Center and several co-working spaces in Surabaya. Agung also added, CoFilm has received permission to distribute from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, based on the Indonesian Minister of Health Regulation No. 62 of 2017 concerning Circulation Permits of Medical Devices, In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices and Household Health Supplies.

(from left) Royyan Wafi CoFilm Team, East Java Deputy Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak, East Java Province Research and Development Head Anom Surahno, Nuryadi CoFilm Team, and Agung Purniawan CoFilm Team

For its use and marketing, Agung is currently waiting for investors to do mass production. Although now CoFilm is still being produced on a small scale, several parties have shown interest. One of them was from a paint factory in Sidoarjo that asked to mix CoFilm as an active substance in its product.

As previously reported, CoFilm is an antimicrobial coating with nano copper technology in the form of an aerosol paint whose color can be adjusted according to consumer needs. “We chose this technology as the active ingredient because it is easy to kill various viruses and other harmful microorganisms,” Agung explained.

Agung continued that the technology developed since June 2020 has been proven to eradicate various types of viruses, bacteria, and even fungi attached to coated surfaces and can provide permanent protection. “This product has also been tested by the Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga and the ITS Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Research Center,” he said.

In addition, he added, this project also collaborates with students from various other institutions, including Airlangga University (Unair) and the UPN Veteran East Java.

At the end of the conversation, Agung hopes CoFilm can be a speck of a positive message amid much negative news about this pandemic. In the future, he targets CoFilm products to be used by the wider community. “We believe that good contributions between fields can help us prepare for the new normal era quickly like Singapore and other countries,” he said optimistically. (sel/ITS Public Relation)

Reporter: Erchi Ad’ha Loyensya