Inactivating SARS-CoV-2 Surrogates on Surfaces Using Engineered Water Nanostructures Incorporated with Nature Derived Antimicrobials

• Published in: Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 12; no. 10; p. 1735
• Main Authors: Vaze, Nachiket, Soorneedi, Anand R, Moore, Matthew D, Demokritou, Philip
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 19.05.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Acids; Aerosols; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial agents; Aqueous solutions; Citric acid; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Deactivation; Disease control; Disinfection; Disinfection & disinfectants; Electrodes; engineered nanomaterials; environmental health and safety; Hydrogen peroxide; Ionization; Lysozyme; Microorganisms; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology; Pandemics; Reactive oxygen species; Sanitizers; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Skin; Synthesis; Triethylene glycol; Viral diseases; Viruses; United States > US; nanotechnology; coronaviruses; environmental health and safety; engineered nanomaterials
• ISSN: 2079-4991; 2079-4991
• DOI: 10.3390/nano12101735

The continuing cases of COVID-19 due to emerging strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus underscore the urgent need to develop effective antiviral technologies. A crucial aspect of reducing transmission of the virus is through environmental disinfection. To this end, a nanotechnology-based antimicrobial platform utilizing engineered water nanostructures (EWNS) was utilized to challenge the human coronavirus 229E ( ), a surrogate of SARS-CoV-2, on surfaces. The EWNS were synthesized using electrospray and ionization of aqueous solutions of antimicrobials, had a size in the nanoscale, and contained both antimicrobial agents and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Various EWNS were synthesized using single active ingredients (AI) as well as their combinations. The results of EWNS treatment indicate that EWNS produced with a cocktail of hydrogen peroxide, citric acid, lysozyme, nisin, and triethylene glycol was able to inactivate 3.8 logs of , in 30 s of treatment. The delivered dose of antimicrobials to the surface was measured to be in pico to nanograms. These results indicate the efficacy of EWNS technology as a nano-carrier for delivering a minuscule dose while inactivating , making this an attractive technology against SARS-CoV-2.