Recent researches have shown that coronavirus can spread through aerosols as well as touching contaminated objects. Coronavirus can stay infectious for 4 hours on copper and up to 1 day on cardboard. It can also remain active on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for 2 to 3 days, which is longer than the time detectable in aerosols (three hours). The findings underline the importance of handwashing and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces, especially in healthcare settings. Surfaces with antimicrobial properties can be incorporated into medical devices and PPE to provide further protection for healthcare providers. Emerging evidence suggests that antimicrobial coated surfaces based on metallic and polymeric coatings could lower the risk of viral infection.
Copper:
Copper has the ability to destroy genomic and plasmid DNA, which makes it an ideal candidate for antimicrobial coatings/surfaces. Copper inactivates bacteriophages, bronchitis virus, poliovirus, herpes simplex virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and influenza viruses. The antimicrobial mechanisms of copper include direct cell membrane damage and generation of reactive hydroxyl radicals through Fenton-type reactions. Entry of copper ions into infected cells causes disruption of viral RNA and DNA function.
Silver:
Silver nanoparticles have mainly been studied for their antimicrobial potential against bacteria. However, it has also been shown that it is effective in fighting against several types of viruses,such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, herpes simplex virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and monkeypox virus. Silver ions can pass through the cell membrane and bind to the thiol group of enzymes, leading to decrease of host enzymatic activities which ultimately result in death of infected cells.
Zinc:
Zinc has been known for its strong antifungal and antibacterial effects. The mechanism is not well known but it is suggested that the primary antibacterial function may result from the disruption of infected cell membranes. Another possibility is that zinc induces the formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, such as hydrogen peroxide, a strong oxidizing agent to kill bacterial cells.
Hydrophobic Polycationic Polymers:
Certain long-chain hydrophobic polycationic polymers (such as N,N-Dodecyl,methyl-polyethylenimine), have been shown to inactivate a wide variety of microbial pathogens by rupturing the outer membrane both in vitro and in vivo.
Antiviral coating team
Bioengineering, Dentistry, UCLA
No-Hee Park, DMD, PhD
Dean Emeritus, Dentistry and Medicine, UCLA
Gaurav Sant, PhD
Institute for Carbon Management, Civil and Environmental Engineering, UCLA
Yulong Zhang, PhD
Dentistry, UCLA
Alireza Moshaverinia , DDS, MS, PhD
Dentistry, UCLA
Faheem Amir Soalngi, PhD
Henry Samueli School of Engineering, UCLA