posted on 2021-12-09, 15:41authored byYuyang Zhou, Nicola F. Fletcher, Nan Zhang, Jaythoon Hassan, Michael D. Gilchrist
Direct contact with
contaminated surfaces in frequently accessed
areas is a confirmed transmission mode of SARS-CoV-2. To address this
challenge, we have developed novel plastic films with enhanced effectiveness
for deactivating the SARS-CoV-2 by means of nanomaterials combined
with nanopatterns. Results prove that these functionalized films are
able to deactivate SARS-CoV-2 by up to 2 orders of magnitude within
the first hour compared to untreated films, thus reducing the likelihood
of transmission. Nanopatterns can enhance the antiviral effectiveness
by increasing the contact area between nanoparticles and virus. Significantly,
the established process also considers the issue of scalability for
mass manufacturing. A low-cost process for nanostructured antiviral
films integrating ultrasonic atomization spray coating and thermal
nanoimprinting lithography is proposed. A further in-depth investigation
should consider the size, spacing, and shape of nanopillars, the type
and concentration of nanoparticles, and the scale-up and integration
of these processes with manufacturing for optimal antiviral effectiveness.