Non-Woven Infection Prevention Fabrics Coated with Biobased Cranberry Extracts Inactivate Enveloped Viruses Such as SARS-CoV-2 and Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

Abstract

The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic is demanding the rapid action of the authorities and scientific community in order to find new antimicrobial solutions that could inactivate the pathogen SARS-CoV-2 that causes this disease. Gram-positive bacteria contribute to severe pneumonia associated with COVID-19, and their resistance to antibiotics is exponentially increasing. In this regard, non-woven fabrics are currently used for the fabrication of infection prevention clothing such as face masks, caps, scrubs, shirts, trousers, disposable gowns, overalls, hoods, aprons and shoe covers as protective tools against viral and bacterial infections. However, these non-woven fabrics are made of materials that do not exhibit intrinsic antimicrobial activity. Thus, we have here developed non-woven fabrics with antimicrobial coatings of cranberry extracts capable of inactivating enveloped viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and the bacteriophage phi 6 (about 99% of viral inactivation in 1 min of viral contact), and two multidrug-resistant bacteria: the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis. The morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of the produced filters were characterized by optical and electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The non-toxicity of these advanced technologies was ensured using a Caenorhabditis elegans in vivo model. These results open up a new prevention path using natural and biodegradable compounds for the fabrication of infection prevention clothing in the current COVID-19 pandemic and microbial resistant era.

Antimicrobial Biomaterial on Sutures, Bandages and Face Masks with Potential for Infection Control

“…Health authorities enforced the use of face masks to mitigate viral transmission and droplet movement [ 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ]. However, the growing number of disposed masks presents a serious source of waste and pollution [ 72 , 73 ].…”

“…These properties can be utilized to elevate the antiviral barrier function of face masks and their re-use. Spraying or coating face masks with antimicrobial, natural biomaterials is a sustainable solution for the planet [ 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ]. Antimicrobial, non-toxic agents can be utilized to disinfect and re-use masks [ 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ].…”

“…These compounds exert antiviral and even anti-corona-virus activities [ 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 ]. Such properties enable their use in wound treatment on sutures, bandages and wound dressing materials, as well as surgical face masks [ 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ]. Coating or incorporating phytochemicals into surgical face masks can reduce the demand during supply shortages.…”

“…Recycling mitigates the economic burden for the end user, as well as the production and waste disposal processes [ 73 ]. An increasing number of investigations on antimicrobial materials showcase different approaches for sustainable, re-usable or even biodegradable face masks [ 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 ]. Cinnamic acid and its derivatives are increasingly used to design novel antimicrobial biomaterials within polymeric matrices [ 80 , 81 , 82 ].…”

Modification of face masks with zeolite imidazolate framework-8: A tool for hindering the spread of COVID-19 infection

“…1 ). Additionally, the work analyzes the efficiency of ZIF-8-based coating against dangerous microbial pathogens and SARS-CoV-2’s surrogates which provides fresh insights into the field and to already successfully developed solutions [47] , [48] , [49] . The research contributes to the global response to addressing COVID-19 by examining a potentially effective solution for reusable protective materials capable of deactivating SARS-CoV-2 virus and other respiratory viruses [50] , [51] , [52] .…”