Singletto

About Singletto

Singletto is a biotechnology firm that develops antimicrobial technologies for the healthcare, military, industrial, and consumer sectors. The company was founded in 2020 by Dr. James (Jim) Chen, a neurosurgeon with extensive research experience in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), Dr. Thomas (Tom) Lendvay, a pediatric surgeon, and John Bjornson, who serves as CEO. The company's inception was driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, stemming from Dr. Chen's hypothesis that PDT methods could decontaminate personal protective equipment (PPE).

The company's core technology is Oxafence™, which leverages Antimicrobial Photodynamic Inactivation (aPDI) to actively destroy pathogens. This technology uses light-activated, medically-understood dyes like Methylene Blue to generate singlet oxygen, which inactivates viruses and bacteria on treated surfaces. Singletto's first commercial product in the U.S. is the ProGear+Oxafence ASTM Level 3 surgical mask, which is the only FDA-cleared mask with claims of inactivating viruses. Tests showed that 99.9% of specific viral strains were inactivated within five minutes of contact with a treated mask. The technology is designed as a safer and more effective alternative to silver nanoparticles, which can have negative environmental impacts.

Singletto's business model involves both direct-to-consumer sales, such as making its masks available on Amazon, and a B2B and government approach. The company collaborates with and licenses its Oxafence technology to manufacturers to incorporate into their products. For its surgical masks, Singletto partnered with Prestige Ameritech for manufacturing. The firm also works with government agencies like the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop applications for military uniforms and wound care. The company has raised $10 million in a Series A funding round and has received backing from the U.S. Department of Defense.