Protective hybrid coating containing silver, copper and zinc cations effective against human immunodeficiency virus and other enveloped viruses

Abstract

BackgroundHealthcare-acquired infections by pathogenic microorganisms including viruses represent significant health concern worldwide. Next to direct transmission from person-to-person also indirect transmission from contaminated surfaces is well documented and important route of infections. Here, we tested antiviral properties of hybrid coating containing silver, copper and zinc cations that was previously shown to be effective against pathogenic bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Hybrid coatings containing silver, copper and zinc cations were prepared through radical polymerization via sol-gel method and applied on glass slides or into the wells of polymethylmethacrylate plates. A 10 μl droplet of several viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), influenza, dengue virus, herpes simplex virus, and coxsackievirus was added to coated and uncoated slides or plates, incubated usually from 5 to 240 min and followed by titer determination of recovered virus.ResultsScanning electron microscopy analysis showed better adhesion of coatings on glass surfaces, which resulted in 99.5–100 % HIV-1 titer reduction (3.1 ± 0.8 log10TCID50, n = 3) already after 20 min of exposure to coatings, than on coated polymethylmethacrylate plates with 75–100 % (1.7 ± 1.1 log10TCID50, n = 3) and 98–100 % (2.3 ± 0.5 log10TCID50, n = 3) HIV-1 titer reduction after 20 and 120 min of exposure, respectively. Slower virucidal kinetics was observed with other enveloped viruses, where 240 min exposure to coated slides lead to 97 % (dengue), 100 % (herpes simplex) and 77 % (influenza) reduction in virus titers. Interestingly, only marginal reduction in viral titer after 240 min of exposure was noticed for non-enveloped coxsackie B3 virus.ConclusionsOur hybrid coatings showed virucidal activity against HIV and other enveloped viruses thus providing further findings towards development of broad-spectrum antimicrobial coating suitable for surfaces in healthcare settings.

Virus Matrix Interference on Assessment of Virucidal Activity of High-Touch Surfaces Designed to Prevent Hospital-Acquired Infections

“…This study did not investigate the effects of humidity as it has been shown that humidity does not impact the e cacy of copper's virucidal activity [Hodek et al, 2016]. Additionally, a study investigating the effect of humidity on In uenza A stability found that relative humidity had no signi cant impact on survivability [Kormuth et al, 2018].…”

“…Since In uenza A is an enveloped virus that is fairly prone to environmental stresses, it can be reasonably assumed that relative humidity will only impact the drying time for many viruses. However, if the evaporation rate of the virus is linked to the e cacy of the disinfectant (as with ethanol [Boyce, 2018] or silver surfaces [Hodek et al, 2016]), drying should be controlled to achieve a roughly standard drying time. When using 'ambient' humidity, it should still be recorded as the levels can change, with seasonal uctuations ranging from 15-48% in one study [Ramos et al, 2015].…”

“…Alternatively, existing protocols for disinfectant sprays can be adapted to investigate the virucidal properties of selfsterilizing surfaces. However, the danger of using these parallel protocols was demonstrated by Hodek et al [2016], where virucidal silver was effective in the standard's test conditions, but not in use-conditions.…”

Dietary intake of HIV-seropositive clients attending Longisa County Hospital Comprehensive Care Clinic, Bomet County, Kenya

“…In addition, zinc plays other crucial roles including cell division, production of proteins and enhancing the functioning of the immune system. 16 Low intakes of zinc by the male respondents means that they were more predisposed to zinc deficiency, which is characterised by impaired immune function and loss of appetite. These symptoms can be fatal for male HIV-seropositive persons because loss of appetitive leads to under-nutrition and impaired immune function can increase their susceptibility to opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, which can cause death.…”

“…These symptoms can be fatal for male HIV-seropositive persons because loss of appetitive leads to under-nutrition and impaired immune function can increase their susceptibility to opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, which can cause death. 16 Finally, zinc deficiency amongst HIV-seropositive persons can worsen the severity of HIV infection.…”