Soft matter science and the COVID-19 pandemic

Poon, Wilson; Brown, A. G.; Direito, S.; Hodgson, Daniel J. M.; Nagard, Lucas Le; Lips, Alex; MacPhee, Cait E.; Marenduzzo, Davide; Royer, J; Silva, Andreia F; Thijssen, Job H. J.; Titmuss, Simon

doi:10.1039/d0sm01223h

Cited by 60 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 178 publications

(202 reference statements)

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“…Thus, given that the adsorption of an individual virion by an aerosol is a random event, most particles are free of virions and the remaining are loaded by just one virion. This observation was long before confirmed by Couch et al [ 43 ] in the context of adenoviruses, where the vast majority had only one virion and this broadly concurs with a review of Poon et al [ 44 ]. As shown in Table 1 , the composition of the mucus associated with ERAPs is defined [ 45 ].…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 88%

SARS-CoV-2-Laden Respiratory Aerosol Deposition in the Lung Alveolar-Interstitial Region Is a Potential Risk Factor for Severe Disease: A Modeling Study

Hofer

Hofstätter

Duschl

et al. 2021

JPM

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COVID-19, predominantly a mild disease, is associated with more severe clinical manifestation upon pulmonary involvement. Virion-laden aerosols and droplets target different anatomical sites for deposition. Compared to droplets, aerosols more readily advance into the peripheral lung. We performed in silico modeling to confirm the secondary pulmonary lobules as the primary site of disease initiation. By taking different anatomical aerosol origins into consideration and reflecting aerosols from exhalation maneuvers breathing and vocalization, the physicochemical properties of generated respiratory aerosol particles were defined upon conversion to droplet nuclei by evaporation at ambient air. To provide detailed, spatially-resolved information on particle deposition in the thoracic region of the lung, a top-down refinement approach was employed. Our study presents evidence for hot spots of aerosol deposition in lung generations beyond the terminal bronchiole, with a maximum in the secondary pulmonary lobules and a high preference to the lower lobes of both lungs. In vivo, initial chest CT anomalies, the ground glass opacities, resulting from partial alveolar filling and interstitial thickening in the secondary pulmonary lobules, are likewise localized in these lung generations, with the highest frequency in both lower lobes and in the early stage of disease. Hence, our results suggest a disease initiation right there upon inhalation of virion-laden respiratory aerosols, linking the aerosol transmission route to pathogenesis associated with higher disease burden and identifying aerosol transmission as a new independent risk factor for developing a pulmonary phase with a severe outcome.

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Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 88%

SARS-CoV-2-Laden Respiratory Aerosol Deposition in the Lung Alveolar-Interstitial Region Is a Potential Risk Factor for Severe Disease: A Modeling Study

Hofer

Hofstätter

Duschl

et al. 2021

JPM

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“…Within a short time after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, an avalanche of publications have appeared, which are devoted to various aspects ranging from the SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission mechanisms [ [1] , [2] , [3] , [4]∗∗ ] its attachment to receptors and abiotic surfaces (fomites) [ [5]∗∗ , [6]∗ , [7] , [8] ], inactivation and removal [ 8 , 9 ] to vaccination. [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 virion physicochemical characteristics pertinent to abiotic substrate attachment

Adamczyk

Batys

Barbasz

2021

Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science

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The structure and main physicochemical characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 virion with the spike transmembrane protein corona were discussed. Using these data, diffusion coefficients of the virion in aqueous media and in air were calculated. The structure and dimensions of the spike protein derived from molecular dynamic modeling and thorough cryo-EM measurements were also analyzed. The charge distribution over the molecule was calculated and shown to be largely heterogeneous. Whereas the stalk part is negatively charged, the top part of the spike molecule, especially the receptor binding domain, remains positively charged for a broad range of pH. It is underlined that such a charge distribution pattern promotes the spike corona stability and enhances the virion attachment to receptors and abiotic surfaces, mostly negatively charged. The review is completed by the analysis of experimental data pertinent to the spike protein adsorption at biotic surfaces comprising nanoparticle carrier particles. It is argued that these theoretical and experimental data can be used for developing quantitative models of virus attachment to receptors and abiotic surfaces facilitating adequate analysis of future experimental results.

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“…Of course, there is a high interest in suppressing virus activity and spread, which limit negative consequences on human health. When looking at the scientific questions involved, one can justifiably argue that control of SARS-CoV-2 is, at least to a certain extent, a colloidal question [ 2 ]. In this context, the topic of how nanotechnology can be employed for stopping enveloped viruses has been reviewed recently [ 3 ], and the same applies to the antiviral properties of polymers [ 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surfactants – Compounds for inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 and other enveloped viruses

Simon

Veit

Osterrieder

et al. 2021

Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science

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We provide here a general view on the interactions of surfactants with viruses, with a particular emphasis on how such interactions can be controlled and employed, for inhibiting the infectivity of enveloped viruses, including coronaviruses. The aim is to provide to interested scientists from different fields, including chemistry, physics, biochemistry, and medicine, an overview over the basic properties of surfactants and (corona)viruses, which are relevant to understanding the interactions between the two. Various types of interactions between surfactant and virus are important, and they act on different components of a virus such as the lipid envelope, membrane (envelope) proteins and nucleo-capsid proteins. Accordingly, this cannot be a detailed account of all relevant aspects, but instead a summary that bridges between the different disciplines. We describe concepts and cover a selection of the relevant literature as an incentive for diving deeper into the relevant material. Our focus is on more recent developments around the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, applications of surfactants against the virus, and on the potential future use of surfactants for pandemic relief. However, we also cover the most important aspects of the historical development of using surfactants in combatting virus infections. We conclude that surfactants are already playing very important roles in various directions of defence against viruses, either directly, as in disinfection, or as carrier components of drug delivery systems for prophylaxis or treatment. By designing tailor-made surfactants and, consequently, advanced formulations, one can expect a more and more effective use of surfactants, either directly as antiviral compounds or as part of more complex formulations.

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Soft matter science and the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract: Much of the science underpinning the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic lies in the soft matter domain. Coronaviruses are composite particles with a core of nucleic acids complexed to...

Cited by 60 publications

References 178 publications

SARS-CoV-2-Laden Respiratory Aerosol Deposition in the Lung Alveolar-Interstitial Region Is a Potential Risk Factor for Severe Disease: A Modeling Study

SARS-CoV-2-Laden Respiratory Aerosol Deposition in the Lung Alveolar-Interstitial Region Is a Potential Risk Factor for Severe Disease: A Modeling Study

SARS-CoV-2 virion physicochemical characteristics pertinent to abiotic substrate attachment

Surfactants – Compounds for inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 and other enveloped viruses

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