Development of a copper-graphene nanocomposite based transparent coating with antiviral activity against influenza virus

Abstract

Respiratory infections by RNA viruses are one of the major burdens upon global health and economy. Viruses like influenza or coronaviruses can be transmitted through respiratory droplets or contaminated surfaces. An effective antiviral coating can decrease the viability of the virus particles in the outside environment significantly, hence reducing their transmission rate. In this work, we have screened a series of nanoparticles and their composites for antiviral activity using Nano Luciferase based highly sensitive influenza A reporter virus. Using this screening system, we have identified copper-graphene (Cu-Gr) nanocomposite shows strong antiviral activity. Extensive material and biological characterization of the nanocomposite suggested a unique metal oxide embedded graphene sheet architecture that can inactivate the virion particles only within 30 minutes of pre-incubation and subsequently interferes with the entry of these virion particles into the host cell. This ultimately results in reduced viral gene expression, replication and production of progeny virus particles, slowing down the overall pace of progression of infection. Using PVA as a capping agent, we have been able to generate a Cu-Gr nanocomposite based highly transparent coating that retains its original antiviral activity in the solid form.

Antiviral performance of graphene-based materials with emphasis on COVID-19: A review

“… Material (concentration) Type of virus Genome Antiviral activity GO; GO-Ag (0.1 mg/ml against FCoV, and 1 mg/ml against IBDV) FCoV (+); IBDV (-) FCoV (RNA); IBDV (RNA) 16.3% (GO I against FCoV); -0.4 % (GO against IBDV); 24.8% (GO-Ag against FCoV ); 22.7% (GO-Ag against IBDV)* [229] GO (6 μg/mL) PRV (+); PEDV (+) PRV (DNA); PEDV (RNA) Reduction from 5 × 10 7 to 2.5 × 10 5 pfu/mL [232] Cationic CQDs (125 μg/mL) PEDV (+) RNA Inhibition the virus entry over 50% [258] Graphene quantum dots HIV (+) RNA IC 50 (37.6 ± 6.23 μg/mL); EC 50 (>19.90 μg/mL)** [259] Al 6063 surfaces RV-16 (-) RNA 3−4 log 10 reduction viable virus [260] Sulfonated magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with rGO (SMRGO) (100 ppm); Spherical magnetic Fe nanoparticles (MNPs) (100 ppm) HSV-1 (+) DNA without NIR light: 34.38% (MNPs) and 34.97% (SMRGO); Under NIR light:79.06% (MNPs) and 99.99% (SMRGO) [244] Spherical Ag nanoparticles (NPs, < 20 nm); Ag nanowires (D=60 nm, Ag NW60), and (D=400 nm, Ag NW400) / 3.125-12.5 µg/mL TGEV (+) RNA The percentage reduction at different concentrations. At 3.125 µg/mL: 7.05 % (Ag NPs), 18.04 % (Ag NW60) and 15.48 % (Ag NW400); At 6.25 µg/mL: 32.12 % (Ag NPs), 38.06 % (Ag NW60) and 28.94 % (Ag NW400); At 12.5 µg/mL: 67.35 % (Ag NPs), 53.90 % (Ag NW60) and 58.65% (Ag NW400) [261] Gold nanorod-based heptad repeat 1 peptide inhibitor MERS (+) RNA More than 90% [262] Copper oxide-containing filter/ 5% (wt/wt) copper oxide particles HIV-1 (+); RSV (+); Influenza A(+); Rhinovirus 2 (-); Adenovirus type 1 (-);Vaccinia virus (+) HIV-1 (RNA); RSV (RNA); Influenza A(RNA); Rhinovirus 2 (RNA); Adenovirus type 1 (DNA);Vaccinia virus (DNA) Log 10 reduction: 4.6 (HIV-1);1.5 (RSV); 1.77 (Influenza A); 2 (Rhinovirus 2); 2.2 (Adenovirus type 1); 0.47 (Vaccinia virus) [263] Copper-graphene nanocomposite (5 μM) Influenza A ...…”

Shine: A novel strategy to extract specific, sensitive and well-conserved biomarkers from massive microbial genomic datasets

“…The current state-of-the-art applications of graphene-based systems for sensing a variety of viruses, e.g., SARS-CoV-2 , influenza , dengue virus , hepatitis C virus , human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), rotavirus and z ika virus , have been summarized previously [ 33 , 34 ]. That was to say, graphene-based biosensor technology with high sensitivity and specificity could be particularly useful in the life sciences and medicine since it can significantly enhance patient care, early disease diagnosis and pathogen detection in clinical practice [ 35 , 36 ]. Furthermore, CRISPR-Cas systems, in particular the recently discovered DNA-targeting Cas12 and RNA-targeting Cas13 systems, both possessing unique trans-cleavage activity, are being harnessed for viral diagnostics and therapies [ 37 ].…”

Shine: A novel strategy to extract specific, sensitive and well-conserved biomarkers from massive microbial genomic datasets

“…The current state-of-the-art applications of graphene-based systems for sensing a variety of viruses, e.g., SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza, dengue fever, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), rotavirus and Zika virus, have been summarized previously [33,34]. That was to say, graphene-based biosensor technology with high sensitivity and specificity could be particularly useful in the life sciences and medicine since it can significantly enhance patient care, early disease diagnosis and pathogen detection in clinical practice [35,36]. Furthermore, CRISPR-Cas systems, in particular the recently discovered DNA-targeting Cas12 and RNA-targeting Cas13 systems, both possessing unique trans-cleavage activity, are being harnessed for viral diagnostics and therapies [37].…”