Inactivation of Human Coronavirus by Titania Nanoparticle Coatings and UVC Radiation: Throwing Light on SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

The newly identified pathogenic human coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, led to an atypical pneumonia-like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak called coronavirus disease 2019 (abbreviated as COVID-19). Currently, nearly 77 million cases have been confirmed worldwide with the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases in the United States. Individuals are getting vaccinated with recently approved vaccines, which are highly protective in suppressing COVID-19 symptoms but there will be a long way before the majority of individuals get vaccinated. In the meantime, safety precautions and effective disease control strategies appear to be vital for preventing the virus spread in public places. Due to the longevity of the virus on smooth surfaces, photocatalytic properties of “self-disinfecting/cleaning” surfaces appear to be a promising tool to help guide disinfection policies for controlling SARS-CoV-2 spread in high-traffic areas such as hospitals, grocery stores, airports, schools, and stadiums. Here, we explored the photocatalytic properties of nanosized TiO2 (TNPs) as induced by the UV radiation, towards virus deactivation. Our preliminary results using a close genetic relative of SAR-CoV-2, HCoV-NL63, showed the virucidal efficacy of photoactive TNPs deposited on glass coverslips, as examined by quantitative RT-qPCR and virus infectivity assays. Efforts to extrapolate the underlying concepts described in this study to SARS-CoV-2 are currently underway.

The viability of SARS-CoV-2 on solid surfaces

“…SARS-CoV-2 can be inactivated by other methods, such as light-activated coatings[ 62 ], ultraviolet (UV) light [ [63] , [64] , [65] ], atmospheric cold plasma [ 12 ], heat treatment [ 66 ], and ozone [ 67 ].…”

The latest strategies in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles

“…In this regard, in a study, the photocatalytic performance of nano-TiO 2 was explored for the deactivation of coronavirus through UV radiation for application in grocery stores as well as hospitals. 49 Nano-TiO 2 particles were deposited on glass coverslips and the results showed good virucidal efficacy. This study confirmed the effectiveness of TiO 2 -coated surfaces for the disinfection of coronaviruses.…”

SARS-CoV-2 Disinfection of Air and Surface Contamination by TiO2 Photocatalyst-Mediated Damage to Viral Morphology, RNA, and Protein

“…Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel human coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19), which has had an unprecedented impact on modern human civilization [1] and resulted in more than 1.7 million deaths globally, as of late December 2020. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to a group of pathogenic enveloped viruses with positive single stranded RNA genomes encoding spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M), and nucleocapsid (N) proteins, which are structural proteins required for producing structurally complete viral particles, and nonstructural proteins [2].…”

“…The photocatalytic reaction of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) is useful for disinfecting surfaces, air, and water. Indeed, the photocatalytic reaction of TiO 2 kills microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, and inactivates influenza virus, hepatitis C virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, enterovirus, herpes virus, Zika virus, human coronavirus, bovine coronavirus, human norovirus, murine norovirus, SARS coronavirus, and bacteriophage [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Furthermore, it has previously been reported that phage B1 present in aerosols are effectively inactivated by the photocatalytic reaction of TiO 2 [24].…”