Copper-Alloy Surfaces and Cleaning Regimens against the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Dentistry and Orthopedics. From Fomites to Anti-Infective Nanocoatings

Abstract

The latest diffusion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has involved the whole world population. Even if huge efforts to control the pandemic have been done, the viral spread is still continuing. COVID-19 is reported as a zoonosis jumped from bats and pangolins to humans. After infection in humans, SARS-CoV-2 is found in the nasopharyngeal and salivary secretions. The virus has also been detected in the blood plasma of infected patients. The viral spread occurs through droplets exhaled from the nose and mouth of the infected people when they breath or talk, or through droplets propelled as a dense cloud by chough or sneeze. The virus can also be delivered as an aerosol from blood plasma, through surgical procedures. Following these ways, the virus can disperse in the air, then reaching and settling on the exposed surfaces. How long the virus will survive on a surface depends on the material the surface is made from. Infection via high-touch surfaces should be prevented. Copper alloy coatings, combined with efficient hygienic/disinfectant procedures and careful surgical practice, could be helpful to health protection in dental practice and can also be adopted in orthopedic traumatology.

COVID-19 and its impact in the dental setting: A scoping review

“…It has been established and confirmed that the transmission routes are via contact (human and surface contacts), droplet and airborne spread and many of these were described in the articles reviewed and are recorded on the Tables [1,[6][7][8][9][10][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]. It is well known that many dental procedures regularly produce aerosols and droplets which normally may be contaminated with bacteria, viruses and blood and may easily spread to the dental personnel and other patients within these settings [7][8][9][10]. In addition, the contact between different surfaces that naturally occur in the dental setting may further contribute to the spread of any harmful substances, including COVID-19 from unsuspected or asymptomatic patients or dental personnel.…”

“…Well-meaning dentists who want to serve the needs of their patients as they should may be spreading the virus faster and extensively, without being aware of it [2, 5,7]. Therefore guidelines and standard operating procedures, which encompass their clinical work, work space as well as the principles guiding their practices, must be well formulated and strictly followed to protect themselves, dental staff and the patients they serve [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. But what is it about the nature of their clinical work that places them and their patients at greater risk of developing COVID-19 or any similarly infectious viral diseases?…”

“…In addition, the dental personnel must wear personal protective equipment (PPE), to prevent being infected by symptomatic and asymptomatic patients [ 2 ]. Additionally, also new surfaces with anti-infective nano-coatings have been proposed for health settings [ 8 ].…”

Antimicrobial Copper Cold Spray Coatings and SARS-CoV-2 Surface Inactivation

“…Xiao et al went on to analytically investigate how fomite transmission of SARS infections were found to play a non-negligible role in pathogen transmission throughout a simulated hospital setting. The study by Xiao et al is only one of a number of similar works attesting to the fact that preventative measures need to be taken to minimize the risk of infection associated with touching an infected surface when SARS-based coronavirus outbreaks occur [2][3][4][5] . Otter et al found that SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and the influenza virus was shed from an infected community member within a hospital-like setting at concentrations that are much greater than the dose required for infection 6 .…”

Biosafe sustainable antimicrobial encapsulation and coatings for targeted treatment and infections prevention: Preparation for another pandemic

“…They act as carriers for target-based delivery of antigens against viruses. Metal nanoparticles can adhere to the viral envelope, the membrane of cells, and then enter the interior, destroying genetic materials such as DNA and RNA [ 3 ] ( Fig. 2 ).…”