From design project to product … here was an exciting nale to the degree studies of three Class of Chemical and Biological Engineering undergraduates, a er the long-lasting antimicrobial hand cream they developed as part of their nal-year coursework went on to be successfully commercialized by an alumna-entrepreneur. With health being a primary concern in the spring of due to the COVID- pandemic, Andy CHOY Man-Hin, Isaac KWAN Chi-Shing, and Michael LUI Wing-Piu came up with the idea of creating an antimicrobial hand sanitizer for their Product and Process Design course, bringing together the theories and skills learned over their four-year bachelor’s degree to design a viable real-world product. Given the signi cant focus on hand hygiene to combat the spread of the coronavirus, they decided to focus on developing a lotion that not only killed microbes and maintained the aseptic environment on hands for hours, but protected skin from the moisture loss and allergic reactions that alcohol-based gels may cause. Under the guidance of departmental faculty member Prof. Marshal LIU and despite the additional challenges of COVID- restrictions, the trio collaborated online and in-person when possible on the conceptual design. They investigated and selected the active ingredients which could work synergistically to kill microbes and the virus, and came up with the formulation to provide the ideal hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value for the gel to stay on the skin. To ensure the design was practical for industrialization, they also explored the manufacturing process, drew up a business plan, and undertook economic analysis. The excellence of the work carried out for the experiential (learning by doing) project saw the students pass the course with flying colors. However, now their interest had been red, the team members were super-keen to take the project further by making a prototype to test the product’s safety and e ectiveness. Would anyone be interested in investing in a student-initiated idea? This is where alumna Vanessa HO Po-Ki stepped up. Alerted to the project by Prof. Liu, and intrigued by the hand cream’s potential, Vanessa and the students started discussions. “It was an unexpected and invaluable chance for us,” Andy said. Once the possibility of a prototype emerged, product safety was the next issue. The prototype had to be adjusted to meet di erent countries’ regulations and laws, and the duration of the antimicrobial e ect tested. A er ascertaining that most labs in Hong Kong could not help with such e ectiveness trials, the students undertook the experiments themselves, with the support of the University’s own Chemical and Biological Engineering labs and equipment. T From left: then nal-year students Andy Choy, Isaac Kwan, and Michael Lui, Chemical and Biological Engineering, who have developed a long-lasting antimicrobial hand cream that is now being sold. 25 IN FOCUS cont. P
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