We kill the world's worst superbugs

without creating antimicrobial resistance.

Recent news.

Engineering novel nanoparticles for the life, materials, and textile science industries.

"Antimicrobial resistance, I do believe, is the existential threat of this century.”

Admiral Brett P. Giroir
Former Assistant U.S. Secretary of Health

Multi-patented, high-volume laser nanofabrication process.

EVŌQ Nano is a nanoscience company that creates uniform, stable, sub-10 nm nanoparticles for a wide range of applications.

Our patented nanofabrication process requires only laser energy, ultrapure water, and pure silver metal. Ablation via a multiple, cross-laser system occurs at temperatures and pressures akin to diamond formation. The single-step, high-volume laser process generates stable, pure metal nanoparticles directly into pharmaceutical-grade water.

Leadership

Shaun Rothwell, Chairman & CEO
David Parkinson, Chief Legal Officer & Board Member
Jeff Bennion, Chief Operations Officer
David Nilson, Chief Development Officer
William Niedermeyer, Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Kami Ball, VP of Accounting
Steve Savage, President of FUZE Technologies
Andrew Peterson, Chief Technical Officer
Charles Wright, President of Medtech & Bio
Nate Kerr, Vice President of Medical Operations

Investors, Partners, and Affiliations

EVŌQ Nano is backed by $20 million in seed funding. The company has several R&D partnerships.

Our technology.

EVQ-218: The world's first and only non-ionic silver nanoparticle.

EVŌQ Nano has developed EVQ-218, unlocking the full therapeutic potential of silver without its detrimental tradeoffs.

While silver’s antibacterial qualities have been known for centuries, it is widely established that the antimicrobial activity is due to ion emission, which poses toxicity risks for biomedical and consumer product applications.1-4

EVQ-218 is differentiated by dissolution and surface chemistry as the first stable, nonemissive, pure silver nanoparticle.5

Antimicrobial Breakthrough
Compared to traditional nanosilvers, EVQ-218 is differentiated as the first stable, nonemissive, pure silver nanoparticle that is on par with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards for ideal materials, making it a superior candidate for biomedical and consumer product use.7

Antimicrobial efficacy against the world's worst superbugs.

Combating Pulmonary Bacterial Infections.

The first therapeutic in development using EVQ-218 is for the treatment of pulmonary bacterial infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. Supported by 2 grants from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, research found an inhaled therapeutic using EVQ-218 demonstrated efficacy against pathogens linked to pulmonary infections:

  • Killed 64 strains from 9 known drug-resistant bacteria, including: – Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, MSSA, MRSA, Achromobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Candida, and Scedosporium.
  • Showed efficacy against 14 biofilms tested.
  • Eradicated multiple yeast and filamentous fungi.
  • Exhibited no toxicity in lung epithelial cells.
  • Developed no bacterial resistance during 28-day testing assay. Resistance to other antibiotics typically occurs in 4-5 days.6-10

NANOTHERAPEUTICS PIPELINE

EVŌQ Bio’s novel platform has the potential to enable therapeutic development for a broad spectrum of diseases.

DISEASE INDICATION

TARGET

R&D

IND ENABLING

Pulmonary Infection
(Cystic Fibrosis)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Burkholderia cepacia Stenotrophomonas

Pulmonary Infection
(Bacterial Pneumonia)

Streptococcus pneumoiae
Streptococcus aureus
Streptococcus pyogenes
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenzae

Pulmonary Infection
(Fungal)

Candida albicans
Aspergillus

Tuberculosis

Mycobacterium
tuberculosis

Cellulitis

Group A ß-hemolytic
streptococcus
Streptococcus pneumoiae

Staph MRSA
(Skin)

Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus

Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus aureus
Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Seasonal Flu

Influenza A

COVID-19

SARS-CoV2

TRADITIONAL ANTIBACTERIALS OPEN AMR PATHWAYS

Many antibacterials lyse the cell wall, triggering the release of warning signals that prompt sibling bacteria to proliferate and mutate, leading to AMR. 

Cell Wall Damage Trigger AMR Signals

Conventional antibacterial agents work by disrupting essential processes or structures in the bacteria cell wall, causing lysing. 

Warning Signals Alert Sibling Bacteria

Lysing triggers the release of warning signals to sibling bacteria. 

Colonization and Proliferation Lead To Antimicrobial Resistant Cells

The warning signals prompt bacteria proliferation, mutation, and biofilm production. This leads to bacteria with increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 

EVQ-218: STOPPING AMR AT THE SOURCE

Characterized as a new form of silver, EVOQ Nano’s breakthrough nanoparticle, EVQ-218, has demonstrated success against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, without triggering AMR. 

Metabolic Disruption Destroys Bacteria From Within

EVQ-218 infiltrates the bacterial cell and begins sequestering sulfur. This neutralizes the cell’s energy source,  disabling metabolic pathways and destroying the cell from the inside. 

Dead Bacteria Don't Send Signals

With death of the bacteria and no cell wall damage, warning signals are not sent, preventing bacterial proliferation and antimicrobial resistance. 

Equipping medical devices with antimicrobial properties.

Targeting Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs).

EVOQ Nano’s antimicrobial nanoplatform is well positioned to target the 1 million healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) caused by indwelling urinary catheters annually in the U.S.11 Bloodstream, pulmonary, and urinary tract infections are a significant cause of morbidity and increased mortality globally.12

The Impact.

  • For infections that are multidrug resistant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates treatment costs exceed $55 billion annually.13
  • Up to 1/3 of all catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) in the U.S. are drug resistant,11 with annual treatment cost exceeding $13 billion.13
  • Treatment costs for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) from central-venous subclavian, internal jugular, and femoral catheters14 are estimated to exceed $12 billion annually.13
Current antibacterial catheters externally coated with silver lose efficacy once inserted, due to natural sloughing of the material coupled with the short life of silver ion emissions. This combination hinders the antimicrobial activity of current products. By embedding EVŌQ MedTech’s nanoparticles directly into the polymer used to make tubing and catheters, manufacturers can combat drug-resistant bacteria and significantly reduce HAI incidence.

Media Contact
Capwell Communications
[email protected]

EPA-approved antimicrobial treatment that's safe and sustainable.

Antimicrobial solutions for textiles and surfaces.

FUZE Technologies is an antimicrobial solutions company serving the textile, hospitality, fitness, and workspace industries. Its EPA-approved antimicrobial technology is free of chemicals, toxicity, and environmental waste. The company has secured contracts with some of the world’s most notable brands, including Nike, Adidas, the New England Patriots, Marriott, and Hilton.

The Niedermeyer Discovery

A lifelong scientist with a background in applied physics, EVŌQ Nano Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer William Niedermeyer values focused research. He has led several research and development programs within instrumental ion physics in the private and corporate sectors, applying his physics background in several groundbreaking technologies. When the events of 9/11 suspended his doctoral studies in high-energy physics at the University of Utah, Niedermeyer pivoted to the burgeoning nanotechnology field, intrigued by its potential applications in medicine, renewable energy, and microelectronics.

With proceeds from his first company, in 2001 Niedermeyer started a small laboratory to investigate nanoparticles and their properties. Early efforts were frustrated, however, by recurring problems with nanoparticle impurity, uneven size distribution, agglomeration into large clumps, low energy emission, and colloidal instability. Plus, purchasing diverse nanoparticles in bulk to conduct research was incredibly expensive.

Motivated to remedy these limitations, Niedermeyer engineered his own nanofabrication process using modified laser equipment and parts from the previous Star Wars program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. To his amazement, this invention produced nanoparticles unlike any he had studied. They were uniformly sized, surfactant-free, with consistent spherical morphology, and no ion emissions under standard and stressed conditions – properties that represented a significant advancement in nanoscience with the potential to enable new applications.

In 2011, Niedermeyer and his team patented the unique laser-based nanofabrication process and the resulting “Niedermeyer Particle.” Starting with 3 initial patents, the company has grown its intellectual portfolio to include 39 issued and 39 pending patents as of 2023.

Meet Our Team

Ali Sharif
Sr. Scientist
Andrew Peterson
Chief Technical Officer
Charles Wright
President of Medtech & Bio
 
Chris Sanderson
Operations Engineer
 
David Nilson
Chief Development Officer
David Parkinson
Chief Legal Officer & Board Member
Jace Peterson
Operations Engineer
 
Jami Zinie
ICP Lab Manager
 
Jeff Bennion
Chief Operations Officer
 
Kami Ball
VP of Accounting
 
Kayla Maas
Research Associate II
 
Kaylee Pace
Testing & Logistics Manager
 
Mike Salisbury
Director of Engineering
 
Nate Kerr
Vice President of Medical Operations
 
Paul Johnson
Vice President of Business Development
 
Dr. Peter Kim
Senior Chemist
 
Rob Holmes
Founder & Director of Operations
 
Shaun Rothwell
Chairman & CEO
 
Sonbol Karimi, Ph.D.
Scientist II
 
Steve Savage
President of FUZE Technologies
William Niedermeyer
Founder & Chief Technology Officer
 

Investors, Partners, and Affiliations

EVŌQ Nano is backed by $20 million in seed funding. The company has R&D partnerships with the University of Utah Nanofab & Health Core Sciences, National Science Foundation Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Charles River Laboratories, Lovelace Biomedical, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Accugen Laboratories, Stillmeadow Inc, Healthcare Innovation & Technology Lab, Galbraith Laboratories, Nelson Laboratories, Emery Laboratories, University of Washington, Arizona State University – EELS, and Utah State University.

References

1. Stabryla, L. M.; Johnston, K. A.; Millstone, J. E.; Gilbertson, L.M. Emerging investigator series: it’s not all about the ion: support for particle-specific contributions to silver nanoparticle antimicrobial activity Environ. Sci. Nano 2018, 5, 2047−2068.
2. Kedziora, A.; Speruda, M.; Krzyzewska, E.; Rybka, J.; Bugla-Ploskonska, G. Similarities and Differences between silver ions and silver in nanoforms as antibacterial agents. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 444.
3. Slavin, Y. N.; Asnis, J.; H.feli, U. O.; Bach, H. Metal nanoparticles: understanding the mechanisms behind antibacterial activity. J. Nanobiotechnol. 2017, 15, 65.
4. Liao, C.; Li, Y.; Tjong, S. C. Bactericidal and Cytotoxic Properties of Silver Nanoparticles. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20, 449.
5. Kennon BS, Niedermeyer WH. EVQ-218: Characterization of high-energy nanoparticles that measure up to NIST standards. ACS Omega. 2024. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c07745.
6. Cakic M., Glisic S., Nikolic G. Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activity of dextran sulphate stabilized silver nanoparticles. J. Mol. Struct. 2016;1110:156–161. doi: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2016.01.040
7. Yan X., He B., Liu L., Qu G., Shi J., Hu L., Jiang G. Antibacterial mechanism of silver nanoparticles in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Proteomics approach. Metallomics. 2018;10:557–564. doi: 10.1039/C7MT00328E
8. Gamboa S.M., Rojas E.R., Martínez V.V., Vega-Baudrit J. Synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles and their application as an antibacterial agent. Int. J. Biosen. Bioelectron
9. Rajeshkumar S., Bharath L.V. Mechanism of plant-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles—A review on biomolecules involved, characterisation and antibacterial activity. Chem. Biol. Interact. 2017;273:219–227. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2017.06.019
10 Silver Nanoparticles: Mechanism of Action and Probable Bio-Application. J Funct Biomater. 2020 Dec; 11(4): 84. Published online 2020 Nov 26. doi: 10.3390/jfb11040084
11. Werneburg GT. Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections: Current Challenges and Future Prospects. Res Rep Urol. 2022 Apr 4;14:109-133. doi: 10.2147/RRU.S273663. PMID: 35402319; PMCID: PMC8992741.
12. Al-Rawajfah OM, Hewitt JB, Stetzer F, Cheema J. Length of stay and charges associated with health care acquired bloodstream infections. Am J Infect Control. 2012;40:227–32.
13. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Estimating the Additional Hospital Inpatient Cost and Mortality Associated with Selected Hospital-Acquired Conditions, 2017. Accessed 19 Jan 2024
14. Pitiriga, Kanellopoulos, P., Bakalis, I. et al. Central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection and colonization: the impact of insertion site and distribution of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 9, 189 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-020-00851-1