A Sioux Falls company is using patent-pending technology developed by researchers at the University of South Dakota to create a specialty sock line with germ-killing additives designed to help diabetics and athletes. Yuyu Sun, PhD, associate professor in biomedical engineering at USD, has spent the past 11 years conducting research in the antimicrobial field. Last summer, USD signed a licensing agreement with Antimicrobial Technologies Group of Sioux Falls to commercialize Sun’s research. The sock line will launch in March. The seamless diabetic socks have an antimicrobial finish that kills bacteria which leads to viruses and fungi, acting to prevent infection associated with cuts and wounds. The antimicrobial athletic socks work by killing bacteria that causes odor. The diabetic socks will be similar in price to other diabetic socks on the market, which range in price from $8 to $25 a pair, according to Pamela Goldschmidt, executive vice president of Antimicrobial Technologies Group. Brian Mathers, director of research development at USD, says the innovation is believed to be the first university technology to result in a revenue-producing license with a commercial partner. “It’s kind of a milestone for the university,” Mathers says. “We have really high expectations for this.”
Goldschmidt says Antimicrobial Technologies Group is excited about the sock line and by the potential to apply the research in other product areas. The company was created in April 2009 specifically to commercialize research conducted at USD. “It’s been a long-time dream of our founder and Dr. Sun to see these technologies actually get out there in products that will help people,” Goldschmidt says. The company also is working to manufacture Sun’s antimicrobial paint, which would kill germs and make environments such as hospitals, kitchens, and locker rooms cleaner and safer. Although many antimicrobial paints are on the market, Sun says his contains specific agents that are more practical, durable, and easier to monitor.
Source: The Volante