New anti-virus technology developed

School of Science and Technology New anti-virus technology developed

New anti-virus technology developed

Date: 12 April 2022

Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr. Alfred Sit Wing-hang, visited Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) today (12 April) to learn about the recent research achievements of HKMU and exchange views on innovation and technology development with HKMU's senior management and researchers.

During the visit, HKMU President Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing shared with the guests the research achievements of the University and its collaboration with industry partners, including the development of the proprietary technology C-POLAR in which the University has been involved.

HKMU's School of Science and Technology was invited by C-POLAR Biotech Limited earlier to design a technical solution for conducting testing to verify the effectiveness of its technology and to assist in applying the technology into products such as face masks, air conditioning system and other devices.

The HKMU researchers and representatives of C-POLAR Biotech also presented to Mr Sit the research findings, the products and the benefits that the technology will bring to Hong Kong society as well as overseas users.

In this collaborative research, the HKMU research team discovers that strong positively polar polymeric filter can effectively arrest and inactivate viruses and bacteria including the SAR-Cov-2 virus in a short period of time. Further, no cytotoxic effect was found and the filter is safe for human use. The effectiveness has also been validated by several overseas virology laboratories. In the United Kingdom, the national medical service has applied this technology to the manufacturing of its FFP3 face masks.

Moreover, many Grade-A office buildings, shopping malls and hospitals in Hong Kong have installed filters with this technology. In addition to the antimicrobial activities, the utilization of this filter can lower the pressure drop which will further enhance the energy efficiency. This air filtration technology was awarded the Smart Living Grand Award of the 2021 Hong Kong Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Awards organized by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. The HKMU research team will continue to further their research so that the technology can be applied to medical and other daily use products to protect public health.

Jonathan Chiu
Marketing Director
3DP Technology Limited

Jonathan handles all external affairs include business development, patents write up and public relations. He is frequently interviewed by media and is considered a pioneer in 3D printing products.

Krutz Cheuk
Biomedical Engineer
Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital

After graduating from OUHK, Krutz obtained an M.Sc. in Engineering Management from CityU. He is now completing his second master degree, M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering, at CUHK. Krutz has a wide range of working experience. He has been with Siemens, VTech, and PCCW.

Hugo Leung
Software and Hardware Engineer
Innovation Team Company Limited

Hugo Leung Wai-yin, who graduated from his four-year programme in 2015, won the Best Paper Award for his ‘intelligent pill-dispenser’ design at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering’s International Conference on Consumer Electronics – China 2015.

The pill-dispenser alerts patients via sound and LED flashes to pre-set dosage and time intervals. Unlike units currently on the market, Hugo’s design connects to any mobile phone globally. In explaining how it works, he said: ‘There are three layers in the portable pillbox. The lowest level is a controller with various devices which can be connected to mobile phones in remote locations. Patients are alerted by a sound alarm and flashes. Should they fail to follow their prescribed regime, data can be sent via SMS to relatives and friends for follow up.’ The pill-dispenser has four medicine slots, plus a back-up with a LED alert, topped by a 500ml water bottle. It took Hugo three months of research and coding to complete his design, but he feels it was worth all his time and effort.

Hugo’s public examination results were disappointing and he was at a loss about his future before enrolling at the OUHK, which he now realizes was a major turning point in his life. He is grateful for the OUHK’s learning environment, its industry links and the positive guidance and encouragement from his teachers. The University is now exploring the commercial potential of his design with a pharmaceutical company. He hopes that this will benefit the elderly and chronically ill, as well as the society at large.

Soon after completing his studies, Hugo joined an automation technology company as an assistant engineer. He is responsible for the design and development of automation devices. The target is to minimize human labor and increase the quality of products. He is developing products which are used in various sections, including healthcare, manufacturing and consumer electronics.

Course Code Title Credits
  COMP S321F Advanced Database and Data Warehousing 5
  COMP S333F Advanced Programming and AI Algorithms 5
  COMP S351F Software Project Management 5
  COMP S362F Concurrent and Network Programming 5
  COMP S363F Distributed Systems and Parallel Computing 5
  COMP S382F Data Mining and Analytics 5
  COMP S390F Creative Programming for Games 5
  COMP S492F Machine Learning 5
  ELEC S305F Computer Networking 5
  ELEC S348F IOT Security 5
  ELEC S371F Digital Forensics 5
  ELEC S431F Blockchain Technologies 5
  ELEC S425F Computer and Network Security 5
 Course CodeTitleCredits
 ELEC S201FBasic Electronics5
 IT S290FHuman Computer Interaction & User Experience Design5
 STAT S251FStatistical Data Analysis5
 Course CodeTitleCredits
 COMPS333FAdvanced Programming and AI Algorithms5
 COMPS362FConcurrent and Network Programming5
 COMPS363FDistributed Systems and Parallel Computing5
 COMPS380FWeb Applications: Design and Development5
 COMPS381FServer-side Technologies and Cloud Computing5
 COMPS382FData Mining and Analytics5
 COMPS390FCreative Programming for Games5
 COMPS413FApplication Design and Development for Mobile Devices5
 COMPS492FMachine Learning5
 ELECS305FComputer Networking5
 ELECS363FAdvanced Computer Design5
 ELECS425FComputer and Network Security5