Prof. Li formed a startup company, Grand Rise Technology Limited with a chemical manufacturer to commercialize the bio-based antimicrobial coating, named CareCoatex^TM, which is a non-toxic, environmental-friendly spray that kills 99% of common pathogens and lasts up to six months. This is the first eco-friendly anti-COVID-19 coating developed in Hong Kong. The company manufactured and distributed the antimicrobial coating to the society, and the CareCoatex^TM Antimicrobial Coating has been applied in PolyU, M+ and Palace museums, as well as many commercial buildings and public facilities such as MTR. The company was also granted funding of HK$3 million in total from the PolyU Tech Launchpad Fund Scheme in 2020 and 2021 to drive the company’s business growth. The partnership stands as a testimony to the synergetic effect of collaboration between academia and industry.

Traditionally, core-shell particles consist of two layers with similar chemical properties, either water-based or oil-based. Prof. Li’s technology was revolutionary as she managed to combine two incompatible layers in one particle with an oil-based core and a water-based outer shell. She also demonstrated that her synthetic approach can prepare amphiphilic core-shell particles with biopolymer shell which has never been reported before. She then obtained a US Patent on this ground-breaking technology in 2003. Prof. Li has been continuously developing this core-shell particle technology to expand the scope and applications in diverse fields including controlled drug release, gene therapy, bio-imaging, enzyme immobilization, biomolecular and chemical separations, functional coatings, and wastewater treatment et al. Regarding the synthesis and applications of amphiphilic core-shell particle technology, Prof. Li has been granted 12 patents. In particular, two patents on antimicrobial coating technology based on the core-shell particle technology were awarded to Prof. Li in 2012 and 2015. These patented technologies can be a perfect solution for creating a safer and long-lasting antimicrobial coating. When spraying the CareCoatex^TM amphiphilic core-shell particles on substrate surface, water evaporates and the oil-based cores would fuse with each other firmly, forming a durable coating.

Prof. Li’s technology allows the use of natural biopolymers as starting materials. Chitosan forms the outer shells of the particles and they create a positively charged water-based layer over the oil-based film forming cores. Chitosan-thymol based particles will interact electrostatically with negatively charged pathogens, resulting in their death.  Third-party testing reports indicate that it kills 99% of common bacteria and viruses. Furthermore, the CareCoatex^TM provides not only offers contact killing effect, but also time release action for as long as six months after forming film. Applying the CareCoatex^TM disinfectant solution to a wide range of surfaces such as doorknobs, elevator buttons and medical devices, fabrics and clothing, or even used in antiseptic wipes is possible. It is an alcohol- and heavy metal-free formulation as well as fast-drying, providing users a safe and easy-to-use disinfecting solution.