In a recent interview with Tracy Weslosky, Dr. Carolyn Myers, President, CEO, and Director of FendX Technologies Inc. (CSE: FNDX | OTCQB: FDXTF), shared insights into the progress and strategic initiatives surrounding their groundbreaking REPELWRAP™ film, a film that significantly reduces adhesion of bacteria and viruses on surfaces. Collaborating with Dunmore International Corp., their manufacturing partner, FendX has achieved pivotal advancements in automating and refining the production process of REPELWRAP™ film, targeting efficiency enhancements such as reduced changeovers and optimized heating and drying phases. These improvements are key to streamlining production and ensuring the product is cost-effective without sacrificing performance.

Dr. Myers emphasized the critical next steps involving rigorous real-world testing to confirm the film’s durability and efficacy against bacteria and viruses in varied environments, including healthcare and other high traffic venues. Such testing, previously conducted in McMaster University’s lab, demonstrated the film’s promising potential. FendX aims to transition to commercial production by the year’s end, with aspirations to begin revenue generation in the first half of 2025.

The partnership with McMaster University, which facilitated the exclusive licensing of the nanotechnology IP for REPELWRAP™ film, was highlighted as instrumental in meeting developmental milestones. The strategic relationship with Dunmore was also underscored as vital for advancing the product towards commercialization. Dr. Myers exemplifies a commitment to delivering innovative solutions designed to mitigate pathogen transmission on surfaces, marking a significant leap towards enhancing public health safety.

To access the complete interview, click here

Don’t miss other InvestorIntel interviews. Subscribe to the InvestorIntel YouTube channel by clicking here

About FendX Technologies Inc.

FendX is a Canada-based nanotechnology company focused on developing products to make people’s lives safer by reducing the spread of pathogens. The Company is developing both film and spray products to protect surfaces from contamination. The lead product under development, REPELWRAP™ film, is a protective surface coating film that, due to its repelling properties, prevents the adhesion of pathogens and reduces their transmission on surfaces prone to contamination. The spray nanotechnology is a bifunctional spray coating being developed to reduce contamination on surfaces by repelling and killing pathogens. The Company is conducting research and development activities using its nanotechnology in collaboration with industry-leading partners, including McMaster University. The Company has an exclusive worldwide license to its technology and IP portfolio from McMaster, which encompass both film and spray coating nanotechnology formulations.

To learn more about FendX Technologies Inc., click here

Disclaimer: FendX Technologies Inc. is an advertorial member of InvestorNews Inc.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorNews Inc., does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all material information concerning FendX Technologies Inc. (the “Company”), including important disclosure and risk factors associated with the Company, its business and an investment in its securities. InvestorNews offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This interview and any transcriptions or reproductions thereof (collectively, this “presentation”) does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or purchase any securities in the Company. The information in this presentation is provided for informational purposes only and may be subject to updating, completion or revision, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any information herein. This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. This presentation should not be considered as the giving of investment advice by the Company or any of its directors, officers, agents, employees or advisors. Each person to whom this presentation is made available must make its own independent assessment of the Company after making such investigations and taking such advice as may be deemed necessary. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on www.sedarplus.ca and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please contact us at +1 416 792 8228 and/or email us direct at [email protected].

In a detailed interview with Tracy Weslosky, Greg Fenton, CEO and Director of Zentek Ltd. (NASDAQ: ZTEK | TSXV: ZEN), shared insights into the company’s strategic progress and emerging opportunities, particularly emphasizing its work with aptamer technology. With an exclusive global license for innovative Aptamer-based platform technology developed by McMaster University, Zentek is pioneering advances in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications, underscoring its dedication to healthcare innovation. The company has made notable breakthroughs in COVID-19 therapeutics with its C19HBA aptamer, showing significant promise in preclinical trials by outperforming leading monoclonal antibodies. This success has paved the way for Phase 1 clinical trials for COVID-19 and exploration into other areas such as oncology, immunology, and neurology.

Fenton highlighted the positive reception from major pharmaceutical companies, reflecting a broad industry interest in Zentek’s aptamer technology. Additionally, Zentek’s ZenGUARD™ technology platform, known for its 99-percent anti-microbial activity, has been instrumental in enhancing the bacterial and viral filtration efficiency of surgical masks and HVAC systems. A recent study on ZenGUARD™ Enhanced Air Filters revealed its potential to offer significant energy, emission, and cost savings for commercial buildings, showcasing a scalable solution for improving indoor air quality and addressing climate change.

Throughout the conversation, Fenton articulated Zentek’s ambitious plans for partnerships and expansion, leveraging the favorable market conditions to boost the company’s visibility and impact. His vision for Zentek includes strategic partnerships, leveraging its proprietary technology, and a commitment to revolutionizing the approach to managing infectious diseases and enhancing environmental sustainability.

To access the complete interview, click here

Don’t miss other InvestorNews interviews. Subscribe to the InvestorNews YouTube channel by clicking here

About Zentek Ltd.

Zentek is an ISO 13485:2016 certified intellectual property technology company focused on the research, development and commercialization of novel products seeking to give the Company’s commercial partners a competitive advantage by making their products better, safer, and greener.

Zentek’s patented technology platform ZenGUARD™, is shown to have 99-per-cent anti-microbial activity and to significantly increase the bacterial and viral filtration efficiency of both surgical masks and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems. Zentek’s ZenGUARD™ production facility is located in Guelph, Ontario.

Zentek, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Triera Biosciences Ltd., has a global exclusive license to the Aptamer-based platform technology developed by McMaster University, which is being jointly developed by Zentek and McMaster for both the diagnostic and therapeutic markets.

The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its aptamer technology has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain COVID-19 (or the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus) at this time.

To learn more about Zentek Ltd., click here

Disclaimer: Zentek Ltd. is an advertorial member of InvestorNews Inc.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorNews Inc. (“InvestorNews”), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all material information concerning the Company, including important disclosure and risk factors associated with the Company, its business and an investment in its securities. InvestorNews offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This interview and any transcriptions or reproductions thereof (collectively, this “presentation”) does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or purchase any securities in the Company. The information in this presentation is provided for informational purposes only and may be subject to updating, completion or revision, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any information herein. This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. This presentation should not be considered as the giving of investment advice by the Company or any of its directors, officers, agents, employees or advisors. Each person to whom this presentation is made available must make its own independent assessment of the Company after making such investigations and taking such advice as may be deemed necessary. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on SedarPlus.ca and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

In an insightful interview with Tracy Weslosky from Investor.Coffee, Dr. Carolyn Myers, President, CEO, and Director of FendX Technologies Inc. (CSE: FNDX | OTCQB: FDXTF), shared significant advancements in nanotechnology relating to antimicrobial films. FendX, having licensed original technology from McMaster University in 2021, has developed a unique film formulation that both repels and kills bacteria. This breakthrough, achieved through collaboration with McMaster, involves using photoactive nanoparticles, titanium dioxide (TiO₂), which not only serves as a linker in the chemical composition of the film surface but also exhibits killing properties when exposed to light.

Dr. Myers highlighted the exceptional efficiency of this formulation, with the film showing nearly 100% repelling properties (99.8% precisely) and a 99.6% effectiveness in killing residual bacteria. This dual-action capability sets this formulation apart in the market, offering a potentially future superior alternative to existing films that either repel or kill pathogens. FendX’s current focus is on producing REPELWRAP™ film, which specializes in repelling bacteria and viruses.

The film formulation referenced in the November 29, 2023, news release, is created by activating the substrate (i.e., plastic like Saran wrap), then coating it with TiO₂ and fluorosilane followed by thermal shrinking creating a surface that significantly prevents bacterial adhesion. Dr. Myers contrasted FendX’s technology with other existing surface protection films that effectively kill microbes when they come in contact with the film surface, but this takes time leaving a potential window of opportunity for transmission before the bacteria are killed.

In terms of applications, Dr. Myers emphasized the potential versatility of FendX’s technology, with the company developing both film and spray products. The primary application areas include healthcare and other high-traffic environments. The spray technology, still in early development, promises even broader applications due to its ease of application.

To access the complete interview, click here

Don’t miss other InvestorIntel interviews. Subscribe to the InvestorIntel YouTube channel by clicking here

About FendX Technologies Inc.

FendX is a Canada-based nanotechnology company focused on developing products to make people’s lives safer by reducing the spread of pathogens. The Company is developing both film and spray products to protect surfaces from contamination. The lead product under development, REPELWRAP™ film, is a protective surface coating film that, due to its repelling properties, prevents the adhesion of pathogens and reduces their transmission on surfaces prone to contamination. The spray nanotechnology is a bifunctional spray coating being developed to reduce contamination on surfaces by repelling and killing pathogens. The Company is conducting research and development activities using its nanotechnology in collaboration with industry-leading partners, including McMaster University. The Company has an exclusive worldwide license to its technology and IP portfolio from McMaster, which encompass both film and spray coating nanotechnology formulations.

To learn more about FendX Technologies Inc., click here

Disclaimer: FendX Technologies Inc. is an advertorial member of InvestorNews Inc.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorNews Inc., does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all material information concerning FendX Technologies Inc. (the “Company”), including important disclosure and risk factors associated with the Company, its business and an investment in its securities. InvestorNews offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This interview and any transcriptions or reproductions thereof (collectively, this “presentation”) does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or purchase any securities in the Company. The information in this presentation is provided for informational purposes only and may be subject to updating, completion or revision, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any information herein. This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. This presentation should not be considered as the giving of investment advice by the Company or any of its directors, officers, agents, employees or advisors. Each person to whom this presentation is made available must make its own independent assessment of the Company after making such investigations and taking such advice as may be deemed necessary. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on www.sedarplus.ca and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please contact us at +1 416 792 8228 and/or email us direct at [email protected].

In an interview with host Tracy Weslosky from InvestorNews, Zentek Ltd.‘s (NASDAQ: ZTEK | TSXV: ZEN) CEO Greg Fenton began their discussion on the substantial improvement in the aptamer platform’s binding affinity and yield as announced in their November 15th, 2023, release. Greg explains how the new platform may reduce the rapid clearance from the body, the researchers have increased the aptamer platform production to a 95% yield, which substantially reduces costs and positions them as potential replacements for monoclonal antibodies, offering efficiency and cost benefits.

Fenton highlights the rapid production capability of aptamers, taking only 6-8 weeks compared to longer durations for vaccines. Aptamers, composed of DNA sequences, are deemed safe and can be synthesized quickly for specific targets. This speed and cost-effectiveness give aptamers a competitive edge in the market, especially against antibody therapies.

He also discusses Zentek’s collaboration with McMaster University in medical research, noting that the aptamer platform is still in early stages but shows great potential. He emphasizes the importance of safety, dosing ranges, and further research to establish the platform’s market value.

Additionally, Zentek’s recent developments include ZenGUARD™ enhanced air filters, which offer significant cost savings in healthcare and energy efficiency. The filters reduce absenteeism and energy costs by requiring fewer air exchanges, representing economic benefits for building owners, businesses, and public healthcare systems.

Fenton also remarks on Zentek’s efficient use of funds, highlighting that their current stage of development would typically cost hundreds of millions of dollars, but they achieved it with a fraction of that amount. This efficiency is attributed to their partnership with McMaster University.

Finally, the addition of John Snisarenko, a former pharma industry executive, to Zentek’s board is seen as a strategic move to enhance the company’s outreach and partnership engagement in the pharmaceutical industry. His extensive pharmaceutical experience and connections are expected to be valuable for Zentek’s future development and commercialization strategy.

The news release from November 15, 2023, corroborates these developments, noting the substantial improvement in the aptamer platform’s binding affinity and yield. The release also highlights the potential for Zentek’s aptamers in precision therapy, competing with monoclonal antibodies, and the significant cost and timeline advantages inherent to their platform technology. Zentek’s CEO comments on the potential of the aptamer platform across various therapeutic areas and the company’s shift towards commercialization and partnership strategies. To access the complete interview, click here

Don’t miss other InvestorNews interviews. Subscribe to the InvestorNews YouTube channel by clicking here

About Zentek Ltd.

Zentek is an ISO 13485:2016 certified intellectual property technology company focused on the research, development and commercialization of novel products seeking to give the Company’s commercial partners a competitive advantage by making their products better, safer, and greener.

Zentek’s patented technology platform ZenGUARD™, is shown to have 99-per-cent anti-microbial activity and to significantly increase the bacterial and viral filtration efficiency of both surgical masks and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems. Zentek’s ZenGUARD™ production facility is located in Guelph, Ontario.

Zentek has a global exclusive license to the Aptamer-based platform technology developed by McMaster University which is being jointly developed Zentek and McMaster for both the diagnostic and therapeutic markets.

To learn more about Zentek Ltd., click here

Disclaimer: Zentek Ltd. is an advertorial member of InvestorNews Inc.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorNews Inc. (“InvestorNews”), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all material information concerning the Company, including important disclosure and risk factors associated with the Company, its business and an investment in its securities. InvestorNews offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This interview and any transcriptions or reproductions thereof (collectively, this “presentation”) does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or purchase any securities in the Company. The information in this presentation is provided for informational purposes only and may be subject to updating, completion or revision, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any information herein. This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. This presentation should not be considered as the giving of investment advice by the Company or any of its directors, officers, agents, employees or advisors. Each person to whom this presentation is made available must make its own independent assessment of the Company after making such investigations and taking such advice as may be deemed necessary. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on SedarPlus.ca and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

How often do you find yourself with subtle post pandemic habits, like pushing doors open with your elbow or forearm, or perhaps you pull your jacket sleeve down over your hand to pull open a door handle? Basically, you are trying to avoid public touch points that have the potential to carry some sort of germs or bugs or other nasties that you’d rather not have on your hands. Things can be even worse in places like hospitals where viruses are an ordinary part of daily life and you can potentially cross paths with some really nasty, antibiotic resistant pathogens. But before I scare you into being afraid to leave the house, have faith that help is on the way.

That help is coming from a company called FendX Technologies Inc. (CSE: FNDX | OTCQB: FDXTF), a Canadian-based nanotechnology company focused on developing products to make people’s lives safer by reducing the spread of pathogens. The Company is developing both film and spray products to protect surfaces from contamination. The lead product under development, REPELWRAP™ film, is a protective surface coating film that, due to its repelling properties, prevents the adhesion of pathogens and reduces their transmission on surfaces prone to contamination. The spray nanotechnology is a bifunctional spray coating being developed to reduce contamination on surfaces by repelling and killing pathogens.

REPELWRAP™ film is the Company’s first product under development and is a protective surface coating film that leverages the Company’s award-winning nanotechnology. REPELWRAP™ film has demonstrated unique repelling properties that prevent the adhesion of pathogens, bacteria, and viruses, reducing their transmission on surfaces prone to contamination. This technology works by combining hierarchical wrinkled molecular structure with chemical functionalization to reduce pathogen adhesion and biofilm formation. When a contaminated hand touches the surface of REPELWRAP™ film, the contamination stays on the contaminated hand and does not transfer to the surface, so no more need for using elbows or sleeves.

FendX believes this technology will be important to control the spread of pathogens on surfaces that are prone to contamination. Research and development results, as published in several journals to date, have shown the original prototype of the film and the early-stage spray formulation to be effective in repelling and preventing biofilm formation of World Health Organization-designated priority pathogens such as Gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Gram-negative Pseudomonas and Enterococci strains, as well as being effective in repelling SARS-CoV-2 related viruses. The product is flexible and can be applied to most surface shapes.  The Company believes REPELWRAP™ film will have applications in healthcare settings and several other industries such as transportation, schools, and sporting facilities.

On the road to commercialization of REPELWRAP™, FendX Technologies Inc. recently announced it had successfully completed the initial development phase with Dunmore International Corp., a global manufacturer of engineered coated and laminated films and foils. As part of the agreement, Dunmore successfully adapted FendX’s lab prototype formulation for making REPELWRAP™ film to its manufacturing production processes. Tests confirmed that the films produced by Dunmore exhibited similar repelling properties to the original lab prototype, leading to the next phase of development, where Dunmore will conduct small production runs on their commercial manufacturing line to create intermediate-sized films for further testing. Automating the manufacturing process for REPELWRAP™ film is a crucial step towards its eventual commercialization.

Along with REPELWRAP™, FendX is developing a spray formulation, licensed on May 16, 2023, which has demonstrated both repelling and pathogen-killing properties. The bifunctional coating uses wrinkled polydimethylsiloxane microparticles decorated with biocidal gold nanoparticles to achieve these effects. Lab testing showed significant reductions in pathogen adhesion and transfer on coated surfaces compared to uncoated ones, with a 99.98% reduction in colony forming units of MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on nano-coated surfaces. Development work began in June 2023 to assess and advance the formulation for initial scale-up testing and creating intermediate prototypes for further evaluation.

The Company expects to launch REPELWRAP™ film in the Canadian market in the first half of 2024. Management believes that the Company’s current level of cash will be sufficient to execute its current planned expenditures for the next 12 months without the need for further financing. This suggests that if everything goes according to plan, there’s an outside chance FendX could be starting to see revenue before they need to raise capital again. Whether that occurs or not, it’s a safe bet that this time next year investors will have a very good picture of what the potential for this Company could be.

FendX Technologies trades at a market cap of C$13.4 million.

One day in the future there could be special nanomaterials used in hospitals, operating theaters, and medical clinics that act to repel pathogens (viruses, bacteria, etc). The applications for pathogen repelling materials are almost endless. Think of surgical equipment, catheters, and perhaps even our personal gadgets.

A kind of supermaterial coating that can keep the germs away. Well, that future is potentially not so far away! A Canadian company has developed a nanotechnology that repels germs (pathogens).

The Company is FendX Technologies Inc. (CSE: FNDX | OTCQB: FDXTF) (“FendX”).

FendX’s vision is to contribute to controlling the spread of infectious diseases. Along with their partners, FendX has developed a nanotechnology that repels pathogens. The nanotechnology has unique repelling properties that prevent adhesion of bacteria, viruses, and liquids.

FendX state:

“The repelling properties of our nano-surfaces prevents adhesion of bacteria and viruses. We believe our technology will have numerous applications and opportunities in healthcare and other industries.”

And:

“Our nanotechnology causes both high surface tension (e.g., water) and low surface tension (e.g., oil) liquids to form droplets when they come in contact with the nano-surface.“

FendX is developing both film and spray products to protect surfaces from contamination

Source: FendX technologies website

REPELWRAP™ film

FendX’s lead product under development is known as REPELWRAP™ film. It works by repelling pathogens. REPELWRAP™ is being developed in conjunction with FendX’s partners at McMaster University. FendX has an exclusive worldwide license to its technology and IP portfolio from McMaster, which encompass both film and spray coating nanotechnology formulations.

FendX states:

“The Company has a growing intellectual property portfolio consisting of licensed nonprovisional national stage patent applications which have been made in Canada, the United States, Europe, China, Hong Kong and Japan, as well as two licensed PCT applications. Our licensed nanotechnology has been featured in CNN Health, Materials Today, and Engineering.com.“

REPELWRAP™ film won the grand prize of the “2020 Create the Future Design” contest, beating out approximately 750 entries from 60 countries around the world.

As announced in June 2023 FendX is progressing the manufacturing stage for REPELWRAP™ film through their agreement with Dunmore International Corp. (“Dunmore”). The initial setup and testing of the manufactured product has been completed. The next stage of development involves conducting small runs on Dumore’s commercial manufacturing line to create intermediate sized films for further testing.

Dr. Carolyn Myers, CEO of FendX stated:

“We are very pleased Dunmore has successfully replicated the REPELWRAP™ film lab prototype in their R&D lab and that they can now begin to automate the manufacturing process…..This achievement marks a significant step forward in our scale-up initiatives as FendX has met an important REPELWRAP™ film development milestone.“

Spray coating

On July 20, 2023, FendX announced that they had signed a collaborative research agreement with McMaster University for the development of the ‘Spray Coating Formulation’.

The Spray Coating can be easier to quickly apply to high-touch surfaces. This is an exciting recent step forward for FendX as it expands the potential product marketplace.

Closing remarks

FendX is moving forward at warp speed. Product development and small scale commercial manufacturing of REPELWRAP™ film is already underway. A spray coating with similar applications is also starting to be developed.

You can learn more about FendX by reading the June 2023 Letter to Shareholders.

FendX Technologies trades on a market cap of C$15 million. It looks like a huge potential opportunity for FendX if they can market and sell their products well in future years. I would expect hospitals and surgeries would be very interested to buy some FendX REPELWRAP™ film or spray once it is available. Stay tuned.

A Canadian company and their laboratory partner have developed a low cost simple and much faster way to better detect pathogens causing infections in our bodies. In recent weeks the team found a way to dramatically improve the effectiveness of this technology, which is really a medical breakthrough you won’t likely see on the news, at least not just yet. Their technology uses ‘aptamer’ based diagnostics from a simple saliva test.

What is an aptamer?

Aptamers are short sequences of artificial DNA, RNA, XNA, or peptide that bind a specific target molecule or family of target molecules. In the case of today’s company, they are using single-stranded DNA molecules capable of binding specifically with target proteins on the surface of pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 to detect if a person has COVID-19 or potentially other pathogens.

Zentek Ltd.

Zentek Ltd. (NASDAQ: ZTEK | TSXV: ZEN) (“Zentek”) is a certified graphene technology company focused on the research, development and commercialization of graphene-based novel products, typically using nanotechnology.

Zentek’s aptamer-enabled Pathogen Detection Technology is a low-cost, rapid, saliva testing, scalable technology initially to be used for COVID-19 testing, but can be adapted to detect other pathogens. Zentek has exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize their COVID-19 antigen testing aptamer-enabled technology. The technology is being developed by Zentek and their technology partners at McMaster University Li Lab, led by Dr. Yingfu Li.

Zentek’s collaboration with McMaster University extends beyond its exclusive license and now encompasses all aptamer and DNAzyme uses, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and neutralization agents, not limited solely to SARS-CoV-2 applications.

Aptamer technology breakthrough, up to 250 times increase

Zentek recently announced a breakthrough in the team’s aptamer-enabled technology, stating:

“Dr. Yingfu Li and his team at the Li Lab have developed a novel aptamer technology that increases the binding affinity of aptamers by up to 250 times. The increased binding affinity enhances the limits of detection for aptamer-based diagnostics. In addition, the enhanced binding affinity may lead to the successful adaptation of these same aptamers for new therapeutic and prophylactic treatments. Binding affinity is a key metric in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications.”

Understandably most people will not understand the implications of what is going on here, so I will spell it out. Effective Aptamer-based pathogen technology opens up a whole new potential to ‘rapidly and cheaply’ detect pathogens. In time this can be expanded to potentially detect other markers of disease in the body. Furthermore, it has the potential to more effectively treat diseases. But that’s the next chapter, best discussed another time and assuming Zentek continues down that pathway.

Dr. Yingfu Li recently stated:

“The novel aptamer technology platform developed in my lab at McMaster University is demonstrating a robust increase in binding affinity to every aptamer we have tried so far. Combining this technology with aptamers that have high specificity has created a very exciting potential for new therapeutics and diagnostics. The enhanced binding affinity from these new aptamers has led to consistent and successful in vitro testing in my lab and the lab of Dr. Leyla Soleymani for diagnostic applications, and more recently, with in vivo testing in the lab of Dr. Matthew Miller for therapeutic applications. These early results are very exciting, and we look forward to future work that applies the technology to other potential therapeutic and diagnostic targets.”

Note: Bold emphasis by the author.

The advantages of Zentek’s aptamer technology for detecting Covid-19 or potentially other pathogens

Source: Zentek website

The potential for aptamer-based disease detection is truly remarkable. There is also potential one day that aptamers can be used to much more precisely target disease treatment or prevention in the body.

Greg Fenton, CEO of Zentek commented:

“Initially, we were working to develop aptamers for diagnostic purposes……Dr Li’s initial breakthrough was important for diagnostic purposes, and now early testing points to the potential to create new therapeutics and prophylactics. I can’t emphasize enough how unexpected these results were to our team and how significant this development is if it is confirmed through future testing.”

For more details, investors can watch the recent Zentek CEO interview here.

Zentek is now at the stage of commercializing their aptamer-enabled technology stating that they are “commercial prototyping readiness, and working with Halteres Associates, a world-leading bioscience consultancy, to assist us in our commercialization process.“

Zentek’s product pipeline

Source: Zentek company presentation

Closing remarks

There is no more exciting company than Zentek. Apart from their aptamer technology Zentek has many other applications for their graphene nanotechnology including: ZENGuard™ (a graphene coating applied to PPE to prevent Covid and other infections; also used for air filtration (HVAC) systems), icephobics (to prevent ice build up on planes etc), ZENArmor (corrosion resistance), fuel additives (helping reduce carbon emissions), Graphene-wrapped silicon anodes, conductive inks, intumescent coatings, and anti-inflammatory therapies.

Furthermore, Zentek makes their own graphene oxide at their Guelph facility and owns the Albany Graphite Deposit (planned to be spun out).

Zentek Ltd. trades on a market cap of C$216 million. With commercialization of ZENGuard™ underway and Zentek’s aptamer technology potentially to follow soon, Zentek is at a great stage to rapidly grow from here. Stay tuned in 2023 to see how Zentek performs and if they can successfully start to monetize their technology.

In a recent InvestorIntel interview, Tracy Weslosky speaks with Greg Fenton, CEO and Director of ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd. (TSXV: ZEN) about ZEN’s exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize rapid, saliva-based COVID-19 antigen testing technology announced yesterday

In this InvestorIntel interview, which may also be viewed on YouTube (click here to subscribe to the InvestorIntel Channel), Greg went on to say that this saliva-based test is exceptionally accurate, similar to current PCR tests, and will “revolutionize the way testing is done”. Affordable, easy to use, scalable and provides results in under 10 minutes, Greg comments that this technology has the ability “to allow economies to reopen.” Tracy then asks the critical question with “will you be able to test for anything?”

To find out — watch the full interview, click here

About ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd.

ZEN is a next-gen nanomaterials technology company developing and commercializing technologies that help protect people and the environment. ZEN is currently focused on commercializing ZEN Guard ^TM , a patent pending graphene-based coating with 99% antimicrobial activity, including against COVID-19, and the potential to use similar graphene compounds as pharmaceutical products against infectious diseases. The company has a significant R&D pipeline with an interest in monomers, polymers, metal alloys, corrosion coatings, biosensors along with the production of graphene oxide and graphene quantum dots. Additionally, the company owns the unique Albany Graphite Project which provides the company with a potential competitive advantage in the graphene market. Labs in Japan, UK, Israel, USA, and Canada have independently demonstrated that ZEN’s Albany Pure ^TM Graphite is an ideal precursor material that easily converts (exfoliates) to graphene, using a variety of mechanical, chemical, and electrochemical methods.

To learn more about ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd., click here

Disclaimer: ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd. is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorIntel Corp. (IIC) does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all the material information concerning the “Company” being interviewed. IIC offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation.  Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken,  as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on www.Sedar.com and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please email [email protected].