AstraZeneca’s microbiology team has tested a new autonomous HERO21 UV-C robot, designed to decontaminate cleanroom surfaces without the use of chemicals.
The aim of the study was to see how well the technology could control microbial contamination in pharmaceutical environments.
The robot was challenged with several types of microorganisms commonly found in cleanrooms, including bacteria, yeasts and spores.
Results showed that it effectively reduced most bacteria and yeast levels by over 99.9% at moderate UV doses. Hardier spores needed stronger doses to achieve similar results.
The researchers tested the UV-C robot performance on glass, steel and vinyl surfaces.
These materials are commonly used in cleanroom environments due to their smooth, non-porous surfaces that can be easily disinfected.
Stainless steel panels in particular account for over 40% of cleanroom installations globally, while vinyl remains a widespread, cost-effective option for floors and wall surfaces.
The results showed that the UV-C robot was performing effectively on each type, but they found a slight advantage in log reduction that was observed on stainless steel surfaces, specifically for spore-forming organisms.
While the results showed promise, the researchers found that UV-C robots should support, not replace, standard chemical disinfection. Shadows, surface angles and varying resistance between organisms can all affect performance.
The team concluded that the UV-C system could become a valuable tool for cleanroom hygiene, one which offers a faster, chemical-free method to enhance contamination control when used alongside proven cleaning processes.
The UV-C disinfection robot HERO21 was used in the study, however, it is just one of several autonomous, chemical-free disinfection solutions designed for cleanrooms.
Other UV-C disinfection robot models used in cleanroom environments include ADIBOT, OhmniClean, and Surfacide Helios.
In particular, the Xenex LightStrike robot has already been adopted by a major pharmaceutical company for use in five production cleanrooms across the US and Europe, although these particular units were not part of AstraZeneca’s study.